David Paul at Bomb Hip Hop Records is a damn genius. He started up Bomb Hip Hop Magazine to give shine to the Bay Area hip hop scene back in 1990. He even included these plexidisc hip hop compilations in his magazines starting in 1992, among these recordings were early production work from Peanut Butter Wolf (with Charizma) and Dan the Automator (Bohemoth). In 1994, David Paul decided to abandon the magazine to devote more time to the store he opened a year previously and start up a label.
He put someone else in charge and he rifled through submitted demo material to make a compilation for the labels initial release. He ended up selecting tracks by Jigmastas, Homeliss Derelix, Blackalicious and Madchild (Swollen Members) and calling it simply the “Bomb Hip Hop Compilation”. It was well recieved when it was released in the summer of 1994 and it sold an excess of 8,000 copies locally with minimal promotion. The money generated from the sales of the compilation never made it to David as the guy he chose to run the label made off with all of the cash. Dave realized at that moment that he had to take matters into his own hands for the next Bomb Hip Hop release.
All of the contacts that David Paul had made at Bomb Hip Hop Magazine (which boasted regular contributors like Billy Jam, Dave Tompkins, DJ Shadow, himself and the legendary former head of Hollywood Basic Records Dave “Funken” Klein (R.I.P.)), the DJ’s he knew in the Bay Area and California as a whole and the people that frequented his store all gave him an idea...he should make a compilation that features the DJ.
He had also witnessed firsthand the phasing out of the DJ in hip hop as emcees and groups began touring and performing shows to cued up DAT’s while tuntablists such as the Beat Junkies, West Coast Rock Steady DJ’s, DJ Shadow, etc. were stretching the boundaries of what hip hop considered a DJ to be...just some random guy that spins records and occasionally scratches them.
He reached out to DJ’s worldwide and assembled an impressive lineup for his next compilation and called it “Return Of The DJ”. It was released a year later than the label’s initial release and sold a total of 5,000 copies. When David approached hip hop publications and retailers with the project they had no idea how to take it or what to do with it...to be fair it was 1995. David Paul, much like the turntablists on his compilation was simply years ahead of his own time (so ahead of his time that he also signed RJD2 before he recorded for Def Jux and DJ Craze before he even won both the DMC and ITF World Championships).
It took about two years before the X-Ecutioners and the Invisibl Skratch Piklz helped to jumpstart the new interest in the DJ. Bomb Hip Hop Records was there in early 1997 with the second installment of the “Return Of The DJ” series. This time music publications were on board and fans were receptive to the project. It was reviewed in both underground and mainstream hip hop/urban music publications as well as mainstream music mags like Entertainment Weekly, Spin and Rolling Stone.
The breakout success of “Return Of The DJ Vol. 2” allowed Dave to reissue the first edition, which did well in it’s second life as a new audience rediscovered this two year old classic. Shortly afterwards, Bay Area music writer Dave Tompkins who previously worked with Dave Paul at Bomb Hip Hop Magazine referred him to a tuntablist by the name of DJ Faust...here begins the story of the DJ crew called the Third World Citizens.
DJ Faust is originally from Atlanta and repped two crews, the Third World Citizens (later they were just called The Citizenz) and Space Kadets Collective. His turntable techniques and unique knack for arranging routines caught the ear of David Paul when he called him and heard one of his tracks on his answering machine. Paul was so blown away that he had Faust change very little of his initial compositions made in his makeshift home studio comprising an “8 track audio recorder, 2 tuntables and a beat up MTX mixer” as Faust says in the liner notes of the CD. While this album has 27 different selections featurning his crew members DJ Shotgun, future world champion and collaborator DJ Craze and future wife and collaborator DJ Shortee, the album was mixed into one continuous 63 minute track and released on Bomb Hip Hop Records in mid 1998.
The album was reviewed in underground hip hop publications like Stress, Elemental, Subculture, Hip Hop Connection and Mass Appeal and it did quite well. That same fall, Bomb Hip Hop released the vinyl only seven track “Fathomless EP” featuring DJ Faust, DJ Shortee, and DJ Craze. This project helped raise the profile of all three DJ’s (Craze would later go on and conquer both the DMC and ITF and start up a new crew called The Allies...but that is another story).
In summer 1999, DJ Faust released his second album “Inward Journeys”and shortened the crew’s name to The Citizenz (DJ’s T Rock, Shortee & Root). This project was a concept album featuring 25 arrangements that went through four diferent stages, Fire, Wind, Water and Earth. Faust moved to a proper studio set up to record this project and the covert art, layout and CD art design was done by Shortee. That same fall, DC native Shortee released her premier album “The Dreamer”. The entire 16 track project is self produced, conceptualized and arranged by Shortee herself. This turntable able is one of the more listenable turntable projects as it’s accesible to people to aren’t even diehard scratch fanatics, this is due to the diversity and overall musical feel of the album.
Shortly after the release of these two albums, DJ Faust and Shortee announced that they were engaged to be married to no surprise of the hip hop community. These two are the among the most well known underground hip hop soulmates since the grafitti worlds union of Sane Smith and Lady Pink, the B Boy/B Girl union of Kwikstep and Rockafella and the emcee/femcee union of Young Zee and Rah Digga. Today, I have uploaded DJ Faust’s first two projects on Bomb Hip Hop as well as Shortee’s solo debut. You already know what to do, people.
All uploaded albums are Zip files. For cover art, full tracklistings and more info, check http://www.discogs.com or do a regular Google search. Here are the links, enjoy ‘em:
DJ Faust- Man Or Myth? (1998)
http://www.mediafire.com/?5ltmm4zgmzm
DJ Faust-Inward Journeys (1999)
http://www.mediafire.com/?1brwicynoo4
Shortee-The Dreamer (1999)
http://www.mediafire.com/?5qoyqjmjnjd
One.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Invisibl Men
Back in the late 80’s to the late 90’s, there was a collection of turntablists in Cali that used to meet in various bedrooms, basements and recording studios to practice beatjuggling, develop unorthodox stratch techniques, find/create new sounds, perform complex body tricks, blend strange recordsin hope of discovering something new, and rehearse these flawless and highly technical routines on multiple turntables for hours on end. There were many DJ’s but there were much fewer turntablists. There were several turntablists but few elite ones... these crazy mothafuckas were the elite of the elite.
At first they were called the West Coast Rock Steady Crew DJ’s. They were so dominant, ahead of their time and in their own worlds that in 1995 the governing body of the DMC asked that DJ’sQBert and Mixmaster Mike retire from competion at their events due to the fact that they had taken the titles the four previous years by such a wide margin that competing DJ’s didn’t wanna step up front and body themselves. They still appeared in future DMC’s...as judges and to do exhibitions and demos.
Their ranks had swelled over the years and their membership boasted an impressive roster of deck demons such as DJ Quest, DJ 8 Ball, DJ Yoga Frog, DJ Disk, DJ D Styles, DJ Flare, DJ Apollo, DJ Cuts, DJ A Trak, DJ Shortkut, Mixmaster Mike and DJ QBert . They have a rather extensive list of credits as well. Individual members contributed scratches to several classic hip hop projects. They used to blow peoples minds with their innovative routines in tours, exhibitions and showcases.
They branched out and sold scratch mixtapes on their website while performing for years on a pirate radio show called the The Shiggar Fraggar Show from 1994 to 1996. They recorded five 90 minute turntable mixtapes for Hip Hop Slam out in Oakland, the final show they did in May 1996 is the source material for the 1998 Hip Hop Slam Records release “The Shiggar Fraggar Show!” that I uploaded from my own crates. This album features appearances from show hosts DJ’s Cue and Killahoe, emcee U.B. , DJ Shortkut, DJ Apollo, DJ Disk, Mixmaster Mike and DJ QBert.
These DJ’s were collectively known as the Invisibl Skratch Piklz. The mere utterance of that name struck fear in the hearts of battle DJ’s and anticipation in the fans that came to see what these turntable terrorists were gonna do next. They were so ahead of their time that the question was “What’s left for them to do?” “Who can stand on a stage with them and not get chopped up?” In 1997 the ITF brought out the only crew on Earth that could match their wizardry on the decks to battle them, The X-Ecutioners.
The battle was a watershed moment and the fallout from seeing these two great crews of DJ’s pulling out all of the stops helped the art of turntablism receive more attention than it had in years. Now electronic music based indie labels such as Asphodel, Bomb Hip Hop, Ninja Tune, Axiom and Om Records were appraoaching the top turntablists in hip hop to record their genius so the world could be exposed to it. Soon, DMC and ITF qualifiers and compilations of past World Championship videos began to fly off shelves and sell in record numbers through hip hop mailorder companies.
Turntables became the most popular selling items in music stores and a new wave of seminal albums by turntablist were now on the market, among them were the Invisibl Skratch Piklz initial Asphodel Records release “Invisibl Skratch Piklz vs. Da Klamz Uv Deth”. It and the X-Executioners “X-pressions” helped reshape the way turntablists were veiwed in hip hop culture.
DJ QBert began to step his business game up (with assistance from Yoga Frog) and started his own label, Galactic Butt Hair Records (these cats come up with the weirdest names for shit). He envisioned a concept album in which an entire story would be told from beginning to end using records, samples and manipulating sounds with turntables. To add an extra dimension to it, QBert not only came up with the concept and story but he orchestrated and composed all of the sounds, music and scratches on the project but he wanted there to be an animated feature to go along with the album itself (this was years before Daft Punk and Toei Studios created “Instellar 555” which if you haven’t seen yet..I don’t know what to tell you).
DJ QBert enlisted his fellow ISP members along with bassist Buckethead and 5th Platoon ‘s master manipulator of the crossfader Vinroc (I’ve overdone it with the alliteration and switched up to rhyming). The album and animated feature film “Wave Twisters”both were well received and critically acclaimed. The film is still sometimes shown on the Sundance and IFC Film Channels. I uploaded a copy of the 1998 release for the readers of this blogs listening pleasure as well.
Not too long afterwards, the Invisibl Skratch Piklz decided it would be best to call it a wrap as a crew (they’d done enough damage!). They had some farewell shows and exhibitions at major hip hop events (that were taped and sold mad copies...the DVD format was brand spanking new as well!) and everyone got to give these DJ’s the proper respect and the send off they deserved. The DJ was at one point the backbone of hip hop culture joint as well as the focal point of the hip hop crew...emcees used to beg DJ’s to get on. DJ’s would hold auditions for emcees to join THEIR crews. The music industry turned the culture upside down and made the emcee the focus...Crews like ISP made it so hip hoppers worldwide realized not to take the DJ for granted ever again.
All uploaded albums are Zip files. For cover art, full tracklistings and more info, check http://www.discogs.com or do a regular Google search. Here are the links, enjoy ‘em:
Invisible Skratch Piklz-The Shiggar Fraggar Show! (1998)
http://www.mediafire.com/?fojzqmookbx
DJ QBert-Wave Twisters (1998)
http://www.mediafire.com/?13izzizjijt
One.
At first they were called the West Coast Rock Steady Crew DJ’s. They were so dominant, ahead of their time and in their own worlds that in 1995 the governing body of the DMC asked that DJ’sQBert and Mixmaster Mike retire from competion at their events due to the fact that they had taken the titles the four previous years by such a wide margin that competing DJ’s didn’t wanna step up front and body themselves. They still appeared in future DMC’s...as judges and to do exhibitions and demos.
Their ranks had swelled over the years and their membership boasted an impressive roster of deck demons such as DJ Quest, DJ 8 Ball, DJ Yoga Frog, DJ Disk, DJ D Styles, DJ Flare, DJ Apollo, DJ Cuts, DJ A Trak, DJ Shortkut, Mixmaster Mike and DJ QBert . They have a rather extensive list of credits as well. Individual members contributed scratches to several classic hip hop projects. They used to blow peoples minds with their innovative routines in tours, exhibitions and showcases.
They branched out and sold scratch mixtapes on their website while performing for years on a pirate radio show called the The Shiggar Fraggar Show from 1994 to 1996. They recorded five 90 minute turntable mixtapes for Hip Hop Slam out in Oakland, the final show they did in May 1996 is the source material for the 1998 Hip Hop Slam Records release “The Shiggar Fraggar Show!” that I uploaded from my own crates. This album features appearances from show hosts DJ’s Cue and Killahoe, emcee U.B. , DJ Shortkut, DJ Apollo, DJ Disk, Mixmaster Mike and DJ QBert.
These DJ’s were collectively known as the Invisibl Skratch Piklz. The mere utterance of that name struck fear in the hearts of battle DJ’s and anticipation in the fans that came to see what these turntable terrorists were gonna do next. They were so ahead of their time that the question was “What’s left for them to do?” “Who can stand on a stage with them and not get chopped up?” In 1997 the ITF brought out the only crew on Earth that could match their wizardry on the decks to battle them, The X-Ecutioners.
The battle was a watershed moment and the fallout from seeing these two great crews of DJ’s pulling out all of the stops helped the art of turntablism receive more attention than it had in years. Now electronic music based indie labels such as Asphodel, Bomb Hip Hop, Ninja Tune, Axiom and Om Records were appraoaching the top turntablists in hip hop to record their genius so the world could be exposed to it. Soon, DMC and ITF qualifiers and compilations of past World Championship videos began to fly off shelves and sell in record numbers through hip hop mailorder companies.
Turntables became the most popular selling items in music stores and a new wave of seminal albums by turntablist were now on the market, among them were the Invisibl Skratch Piklz initial Asphodel Records release “Invisibl Skratch Piklz vs. Da Klamz Uv Deth”. It and the X-Executioners “X-pressions” helped reshape the way turntablists were veiwed in hip hop culture.
DJ QBert began to step his business game up (with assistance from Yoga Frog) and started his own label, Galactic Butt Hair Records (these cats come up with the weirdest names for shit). He envisioned a concept album in which an entire story would be told from beginning to end using records, samples and manipulating sounds with turntables. To add an extra dimension to it, QBert not only came up with the concept and story but he orchestrated and composed all of the sounds, music and scratches on the project but he wanted there to be an animated feature to go along with the album itself (this was years before Daft Punk and Toei Studios created “Instellar 555” which if you haven’t seen yet..I don’t know what to tell you).
DJ QBert enlisted his fellow ISP members along with bassist Buckethead and 5th Platoon ‘s master manipulator of the crossfader Vinroc (I’ve overdone it with the alliteration and switched up to rhyming). The album and animated feature film “Wave Twisters”both were well received and critically acclaimed. The film is still sometimes shown on the Sundance and IFC Film Channels. I uploaded a copy of the 1998 release for the readers of this blogs listening pleasure as well.
Not too long afterwards, the Invisibl Skratch Piklz decided it would be best to call it a wrap as a crew (they’d done enough damage!). They had some farewell shows and exhibitions at major hip hop events (that were taped and sold mad copies...the DVD format was brand spanking new as well!) and everyone got to give these DJ’s the proper respect and the send off they deserved. The DJ was at one point the backbone of hip hop culture joint as well as the focal point of the hip hop crew...emcees used to beg DJ’s to get on. DJ’s would hold auditions for emcees to join THEIR crews. The music industry turned the culture upside down and made the emcee the focus...Crews like ISP made it so hip hoppers worldwide realized not to take the DJ for granted ever again.
All uploaded albums are Zip files. For cover art, full tracklistings and more info, check http://www.discogs.com or do a regular Google search. Here are the links, enjoy ‘em:
Invisible Skratch Piklz-The Shiggar Fraggar Show! (1998)
http://www.mediafire.com/?fojzqmookbx
DJ QBert-Wave Twisters (1998)
http://www.mediafire.com/?13izzizjijt
One.
Friday, February 23, 2007
X-Ecutioners Saga
Going back to the late 80’s and early 90’s there was a crew of DJ’s that used to assemble in assorted bedrooms and basements all over NYC and practice body tricks, unorthodox scratches, and ill routines using multiple turntables at once. They were called the X-Men and their ranks contain the creator of the art of beat juggling, “Superman” Steve D, Sean C (AKA Sean Cane), Diamond J, Dr. Butcher, Boogie Boy, Rob Swift, “Grandmaster” Roc Raida, Mista Sinista and Total Eclipse (at least at the time of these recordings..Precision has since joined the ranks as well). They were successful in several battles and individual members racked up accolades and respect on the turntable battle/demo circuit. They’d been immortalized on the seminal tuntable documentary “Battle Sounds”. The Supermen Inc. Battles For World Supremacy, New Music Seminar battles, DMC and ITF battles had all been conquered, the final frontier for the crew was to sucessfully apply the medium of turntablism to wax.
The X-Men were forced to change their name after signing a deal with indie label Asphodel Records in order to avoid a legal battle with Marvel Comics and they tightened their membership to just four members, Rob Swift, Roc Raida, Mista Sinista and Total Eclipse. The newly christened X-Ecutioners recorded their first album “X-pressions”on the heels of the success of Bomb Records “Return Of The DJ” and OM Records “Deep Concentration” compilations ( available for download on this blog) in 1997. Later on the same year, Rob Swift released his project “Rob Swift presents Soulful Fruit” on Peanut Butter Wolf’s Stones Throw label. Both albums were successful and well recieved as the X-Ecutioners once again hit the demo circuit and toured the world.
In 1999, Rob Swift returned to Naut Humon and Mitzi Johnson at Ashodel Records to record his album “The Ablist”. The project featured guest spots fromhip hop band Dujeous, Rhymes from Pharoahe Monche, Gudtyme and a jail freestyle from Ganghis Khan, and production from Johnny “Juice” Rosado, Dr. Butcher, Dujeous, Dan The Automator, and Rob Swift himself. Rob’s motto for this album was “The Will To Do Something Different”...Rob Swift was ready to do some different shit (and he executed it extremely well). “The Ablist”was a turntable masterpiece that measured up well to the other landmark turntable based albums that came out around the same time (some of which will be available for download on this very blog in the near future).
A landmark moment for turntablism happened in July 2000 at the week long Lincoln Center Festival when the X-Ecutioners performed a 40 minute piece called “The Deconstruction Of Blues On Four Turntables” during an exhibition called “The Turntable As Ensemble Instrument”. While us hip hop heads were more than familiar with the versatility and creativity of tuntablists, the spectators at said event were awestruck (I take it they never heard of Portishead). It made such a huge impact that they recieved a long standing ovation, converted several previous non believers to the beauty that is Hip Hop as well as receiving a big write up in the July 18th, 2000 edition of the New York Times. Roc Raida and Mista Sinista released individual projects (Roc Raida founded Cor Adair Entertainment) and they appeared on several documentaries, most namely the video series “The Adventures Of Grandmaster Roc Raida”. Shortly afterwards, the X-Ecutioners signed a deal with Loud Records to release the project “Built From Scratch”.
The X-Ecutioners released “Built From Scratch” in early 2002, the project featured guest appearances from beatboxer Kenny “The Human Orchestra” Muhammad, Large Professor, M.O.P., Dan The Automator, Linkin Park, DJ Premier, Pharoahe Monch, Xzibit, Inspectah Deck, Skillz, Tom Tom Club, Biz Markie, Everlast, The Bum Rush Bros. (Babu and J.Rocc of the World Famous Beat Junkies), Kool G Rap and a posthumous verse from Big Pun. The albums cover was inspired by Public Enemy’s classic debut “Yo! Bum Rush The Show” and it features the X-Ecutioners with Kool Herc, Grandwizard Theodore (the creator of the scratch), and Grandmixer D. ST (his cuts on Herbie Hancock’s “Rock It” introduced a whole generation to the art of scratching). The album is the culmination of 5 years of battles, tours, exhibitions, and recording that helped change how the public at large viewed the culture of hip hop as a whole and in particular, the art of turntablism. All four albums, X-Ecutioners “X-pressions”, “Rob Swift presents Soulful Fruit”, Rob Swift “The Ablist” and X-Ecutioners “Built From Scratch” all all available for download below.
For full tracklistings, cover art or more general info on these uploads check out http://www.discogs.com or do a regular Google search. All uploads are Zip files, download and enjoy ‘em:
X-Ecutioners-X-pressions (1997)
http://www.mediafire.com/?b2kmzrm2jfo
Rob Swift presents Soulful Fruit (1997)
http://www.mediafire.com/?0do2hatz4cn
Rob Swift-The Ablist (1999)
http://www.mediafire.com/?9jh3lmmkzgj
X-Ecutioners-Built From Scratch (2002)
http://www.mediafire.com/?bwkznddmuku
One.
The X-Men were forced to change their name after signing a deal with indie label Asphodel Records in order to avoid a legal battle with Marvel Comics and they tightened their membership to just four members, Rob Swift, Roc Raida, Mista Sinista and Total Eclipse. The newly christened X-Ecutioners recorded their first album “X-pressions”on the heels of the success of Bomb Records “Return Of The DJ” and OM Records “Deep Concentration” compilations ( available for download on this blog) in 1997. Later on the same year, Rob Swift released his project “Rob Swift presents Soulful Fruit” on Peanut Butter Wolf’s Stones Throw label. Both albums were successful and well recieved as the X-Ecutioners once again hit the demo circuit and toured the world.
In 1999, Rob Swift returned to Naut Humon and Mitzi Johnson at Ashodel Records to record his album “The Ablist”. The project featured guest spots fromhip hop band Dujeous, Rhymes from Pharoahe Monche, Gudtyme and a jail freestyle from Ganghis Khan, and production from Johnny “Juice” Rosado, Dr. Butcher, Dujeous, Dan The Automator, and Rob Swift himself. Rob’s motto for this album was “The Will To Do Something Different”...Rob Swift was ready to do some different shit (and he executed it extremely well). “The Ablist”was a turntable masterpiece that measured up well to the other landmark turntable based albums that came out around the same time (some of which will be available for download on this very blog in the near future).
A landmark moment for turntablism happened in July 2000 at the week long Lincoln Center Festival when the X-Ecutioners performed a 40 minute piece called “The Deconstruction Of Blues On Four Turntables” during an exhibition called “The Turntable As Ensemble Instrument”. While us hip hop heads were more than familiar with the versatility and creativity of tuntablists, the spectators at said event were awestruck (I take it they never heard of Portishead). It made such a huge impact that they recieved a long standing ovation, converted several previous non believers to the beauty that is Hip Hop as well as receiving a big write up in the July 18th, 2000 edition of the New York Times. Roc Raida and Mista Sinista released individual projects (Roc Raida founded Cor Adair Entertainment) and they appeared on several documentaries, most namely the video series “The Adventures Of Grandmaster Roc Raida”. Shortly afterwards, the X-Ecutioners signed a deal with Loud Records to release the project “Built From Scratch”.
The X-Ecutioners released “Built From Scratch” in early 2002, the project featured guest appearances from beatboxer Kenny “The Human Orchestra” Muhammad, Large Professor, M.O.P., Dan The Automator, Linkin Park, DJ Premier, Pharoahe Monch, Xzibit, Inspectah Deck, Skillz, Tom Tom Club, Biz Markie, Everlast, The Bum Rush Bros. (Babu and J.Rocc of the World Famous Beat Junkies), Kool G Rap and a posthumous verse from Big Pun. The albums cover was inspired by Public Enemy’s classic debut “Yo! Bum Rush The Show” and it features the X-Ecutioners with Kool Herc, Grandwizard Theodore (the creator of the scratch), and Grandmixer D. ST (his cuts on Herbie Hancock’s “Rock It” introduced a whole generation to the art of scratching). The album is the culmination of 5 years of battles, tours, exhibitions, and recording that helped change how the public at large viewed the culture of hip hop as a whole and in particular, the art of turntablism. All four albums, X-Ecutioners “X-pressions”, “Rob Swift presents Soulful Fruit”, Rob Swift “The Ablist” and X-Ecutioners “Built From Scratch” all all available for download below.
For full tracklistings, cover art or more general info on these uploads check out http://www.discogs.com or do a regular Google search. All uploads are Zip files, download and enjoy ‘em:
X-Ecutioners-X-pressions (1997)
http://www.mediafire.com/?b2kmzrm2jfo
Rob Swift presents Soulful Fruit (1997)
http://www.mediafire.com/?0do2hatz4cn
Rob Swift-The Ablist (1999)
http://www.mediafire.com/?9jh3lmmkzgj
X-Ecutioners-Built From Scratch (2002)
http://www.mediafire.com/?bwkznddmuku
One.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
How To Further Manage Your Netflix Account AKA Dartflix Edition #8
Now that you have an idea of what movies to put on you r queue from the previous seven Dartflix editions, we can get back into the topic of fine tuning your queue. If you have your queue set up right that means you’re getting your new releases on Tuesday and turning over your remaining rentals that aren’t new releases to maximize your movie watching potential. For example, if you’re renting four movies at a time and there are 3 movies new releases that coming week that you want to recieve that Tuesday, you’re returning one movie after watching it immeadiately again and again while holding off three movies to mail back that Friday or Saturday before 6PM (last mail pickup of the day).
Some other things to do are to send back two movies in one sleeve and monitior your Netflix queue often...if there is a movie that you really want to see and you feel that the Netflix people maybe jerking you on whether or not your returns got there on time, report the returns missing and they will automatically advance you the next movies on your queue (don’t do this too often or they’ll never believe it when that DOES happen), check back to make sure that said returns are actually recieved by Netflix...if they show up within 24-48 hours it’s all good.
It’s also a good idea to rank all of your returns (give them stars) because Netflix often recommends some good flicks to watch based on what you like. It’s also important to check http://www.imdb.com or http://www.amazon.com for new and upcoming releases in both the theatre and on DVD regularly to keep your queue stocked with films to rent in the near and immeadiate future. Now, on to a list of future releases.
Dart’s Three Trailers Of The Week (2/18/07-2/24/07)
The Hills Have Eyes 2
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0800069/trailers
First Snow
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0432289/trailers
The Lookout
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427470/trailers
Upcoming Netflix releases to put on your queue now:
Hollywoodland
Half Nelson
U.S. Vs. John Lennon
Infamous
The Quiet
Paul Robeson: The Portraits of the Artist: The Criterion Edition
Babel
The Prestige
Man Of The Year
A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints
Crossover
50 Pills
Sherrybaby
The Wandering Swordsman
Stranger Than Fiction
Casino Royale
Tenacious D in The Pick Of Destiny
The Heart Of The Game
Marie Antoinette
Borat
The Pursuit of Happyness
Blood Diamond
Eragon
Deja Vu
Rocky Balboa
The Good Shepherd
The Holiday
Not Just the Best of the Larry Sanders Show
The Nativity Story
Curse of the Golden Flower
Entourage - Season Three
Dart’s Picks For The Week:
Catch A Fire-It’s based on a true story and set in Africa with Derek Luke as the lead...I can’t believe no one talks about this movie.
Seven Swords- An epic martial arts masterpiece directed by Tsui Hark, one of my favorite all time directors. Top notch cinematography, special effects and fight choreography makes this a must see film for Kung Fu/Wu Xia enthusiasts.
The Promise- Another Wu Xia/fantasy film with superb direction, cinematography and fight sequences. This joint has been seriously slept on by American audiences. Don’t miss the boat on this one.
Dart’s WTF? Award/Watch This Bullshit At Your Own Risk:
Waist Deep-I felt like I was waist deep in bullshit watching this contrived hood/gangsta film. Why do these movies always get green lighted considering there are so many better stories/scripts out there that Hollywood won’t touch with a 10 foot pole? Pisses me off.
Crank-Was this even a movie? All action, no rhyme or reason (or dialogue for that matter). I watched this movie and forgot about immeadiately afterwards...NOTHING about this movie stood out (short of Amy Smart getting smashed in public in front of a bus of schoolkids) to me. I DETEST disposable cinema. Don’t do it to yourselves, if you rent it remember that you've been warned.
One.
Some other things to do are to send back two movies in one sleeve and monitior your Netflix queue often...if there is a movie that you really want to see and you feel that the Netflix people maybe jerking you on whether or not your returns got there on time, report the returns missing and they will automatically advance you the next movies on your queue (don’t do this too often or they’ll never believe it when that DOES happen), check back to make sure that said returns are actually recieved by Netflix...if they show up within 24-48 hours it’s all good.
It’s also a good idea to rank all of your returns (give them stars) because Netflix often recommends some good flicks to watch based on what you like. It’s also important to check http://www.imdb.com or http://www.amazon.com for new and upcoming releases in both the theatre and on DVD regularly to keep your queue stocked with films to rent in the near and immeadiate future. Now, on to a list of future releases.
Dart’s Three Trailers Of The Week (2/18/07-2/24/07)
The Hills Have Eyes 2
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0800069/trailers
First Snow
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0432289/trailers
The Lookout
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427470/trailers
Upcoming Netflix releases to put on your queue now:
Hollywoodland
Half Nelson
U.S. Vs. John Lennon
Infamous
The Quiet
Paul Robeson: The Portraits of the Artist: The Criterion Edition
Babel
The Prestige
Man Of The Year
A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints
Crossover
50 Pills
Sherrybaby
The Wandering Swordsman
Stranger Than Fiction
Casino Royale
Tenacious D in The Pick Of Destiny
The Heart Of The Game
Marie Antoinette
Borat
The Pursuit of Happyness
Blood Diamond
Eragon
Deja Vu
Rocky Balboa
The Good Shepherd
The Holiday
Not Just the Best of the Larry Sanders Show
The Nativity Story
Curse of the Golden Flower
Entourage - Season Three
Dart’s Picks For The Week:
Catch A Fire-It’s based on a true story and set in Africa with Derek Luke as the lead...I can’t believe no one talks about this movie.
Seven Swords- An epic martial arts masterpiece directed by Tsui Hark, one of my favorite all time directors. Top notch cinematography, special effects and fight choreography makes this a must see film for Kung Fu/Wu Xia enthusiasts.
The Promise- Another Wu Xia/fantasy film with superb direction, cinematography and fight sequences. This joint has been seriously slept on by American audiences. Don’t miss the boat on this one.
Dart’s WTF? Award/Watch This Bullshit At Your Own Risk:
Waist Deep-I felt like I was waist deep in bullshit watching this contrived hood/gangsta film. Why do these movies always get green lighted considering there are so many better stories/scripts out there that Hollywood won’t touch with a 10 foot pole? Pisses me off.
Crank-Was this even a movie? All action, no rhyme or reason (or dialogue for that matter). I watched this movie and forgot about immeadiately afterwards...NOTHING about this movie stood out (short of Amy Smart getting smashed in public in front of a bus of schoolkids) to me. I DETEST disposable cinema. Don’t do it to yourselves, if you rent it remember that you've been warned.
One.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
The Prose and Cons(equence)
Back in 1996 when A Tribe Called Quest released their album “Beats, Rhymes & Life” they had a new squad member down with them on the project, he was Q Tip’s cousin and his name was Consequence. Consequence was featured on a couple of songs and he also made his rounds on the mixtape circuit as well as touring with Tribe during the run of their album (for his recordings from this time period pick up the Consequence mixtape “A Tribe Called Quence”, available through some online retail stores). After Cons finished his run with Tribe, he appeared on a couple of compilations (“Rap’s Next Generation” and “New York State Of Rhyme”), made some demos and hit the mixtape circuit hard in hopes of securing a deal.
After a year of not receiving the type of deal he thought he deserved, Consequence formed a group called Guilty with his boy Menace and they appeared on the Rawkus’ “Lyricist Lounge 2” compilation together. The group dynamic wasn’t working out as well as Cons hoped so he once again hit the mixtape circuit in hopes of securing a deal since Rawkus was in disarray and not signing new acts (they had signed Kool G Rap, Tiye Phoenix, Cocoa Brovas AKA Smif N’ Wessun and not released any of their materal as well as passing on signing Eminem, Saigon, Common and Kanye West in the past years leading up to the Lyricist Lounge 2 compilation). During this time he was looking for producers to work with and he came into contact with Kanye West. He and Kanye began making demo tracks together with Kanye’s friends John Stevens (AKA John Legend who had a regular gig as a featured performer at a NY club at the time) and his boy from Chicago Rhymefest. Shortly afterwards, Kanye began selling beats to Roc A Fella Records artists like Beanie Sigel and later Jay-Z his demand and buzz grew exponentially with each hit. At the same time Kanye was selling beats, he was making mixtapes to promote himself as an artist (“Get Well Soon” and “I’m Good) that featured Consequence as well as his other people (John Legend, GLC, Rhymefest, etc.).
At the same time, Consequence began his mixtape series (cross promoted by Kanye West’s mixtapes), ultimately Consequences mixtapes plus his guest appearances of Kanye’s joints lead to him releasing his first proper album on indie labelSure Shot Records (“Take ‘Em To The Cleaners”) and his subsequent premiere major label (G.O.O.D. Music) solo release this March titled “Don’t Quit Your Day Job”. I offer to you readers his first three street mixtapes for downloading and listening purposes, “ All Sales Are Final”, “Make The Game Come To You” and the R&B blends hybrid Roc A Fella mixtape “An Evening Wit EPC (Easy Pimpin’ Cons)”. If you like these mixtapes (the final 7 tracks of Vol. 2 don’t play so ot only has 16 tracks as opposed to 23...if any has them then please up them for me) then look into picking up the remaining Consequence mixtapes and I highly recommend his “Take ‘Em To The Cleaners” album which as of right now I believe in still available for purchase. Either way, enjoy these downloads and look out for Consequences album this March:
Consequence presents All Sales Are Final The Cons Vol. 1 (2003)
http://www.mediafire.com/?0zdmjhdtmym
Consequence presents Make The Game Come To You The Cons Vol. 2 (2003)
http://www.mediafire.com/?ckynxtdyydn
Consequence presents An Evening Wit EPC (2003)
http://www.mediafire.com/?bywqnkn4nim
One.
After a year of not receiving the type of deal he thought he deserved, Consequence formed a group called Guilty with his boy Menace and they appeared on the Rawkus’ “Lyricist Lounge 2” compilation together. The group dynamic wasn’t working out as well as Cons hoped so he once again hit the mixtape circuit in hopes of securing a deal since Rawkus was in disarray and not signing new acts (they had signed Kool G Rap, Tiye Phoenix, Cocoa Brovas AKA Smif N’ Wessun and not released any of their materal as well as passing on signing Eminem, Saigon, Common and Kanye West in the past years leading up to the Lyricist Lounge 2 compilation). During this time he was looking for producers to work with and he came into contact with Kanye West. He and Kanye began making demo tracks together with Kanye’s friends John Stevens (AKA John Legend who had a regular gig as a featured performer at a NY club at the time) and his boy from Chicago Rhymefest. Shortly afterwards, Kanye began selling beats to Roc A Fella Records artists like Beanie Sigel and later Jay-Z his demand and buzz grew exponentially with each hit. At the same time Kanye was selling beats, he was making mixtapes to promote himself as an artist (“Get Well Soon” and “I’m Good) that featured Consequence as well as his other people (John Legend, GLC, Rhymefest, etc.).
At the same time, Consequence began his mixtape series (cross promoted by Kanye West’s mixtapes), ultimately Consequences mixtapes plus his guest appearances of Kanye’s joints lead to him releasing his first proper album on indie labelSure Shot Records (“Take ‘Em To The Cleaners”) and his subsequent premiere major label (G.O.O.D. Music) solo release this March titled “Don’t Quit Your Day Job”. I offer to you readers his first three street mixtapes for downloading and listening purposes, “ All Sales Are Final”, “Make The Game Come To You” and the R&B blends hybrid Roc A Fella mixtape “An Evening Wit EPC (Easy Pimpin’ Cons)”. If you like these mixtapes (the final 7 tracks of Vol. 2 don’t play so ot only has 16 tracks as opposed to 23...if any has them then please up them for me) then look into picking up the remaining Consequence mixtapes and I highly recommend his “Take ‘Em To The Cleaners” album which as of right now I believe in still available for purchase. Either way, enjoy these downloads and look out for Consequences album this March:
Consequence presents All Sales Are Final The Cons Vol. 1 (2003)
http://www.mediafire.com/?0zdmjhdtmym
Consequence presents Make The Game Come To You The Cons Vol. 2 (2003)
http://www.mediafire.com/?ckynxtdyydn
Consequence presents An Evening Wit EPC (2003)
http://www.mediafire.com/?bywqnkn4nim
One.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Full Metal Alchemist
I write too damn much. I decided to see if I could go three straight days without posting anything on here...I manage to succeed, but not without going through some serious withdrawal. I decided to make up for it by uploading two of Alchemist’s mixtapes to promote his 1st Infantry album, The Alchemist presents The Cutting Room Floor and The Alchemist presents Insomnia.
The highlight of the Alchemists mixtapes is that they feature material from his inner circle, dubbed the 1st Infantry that includes his closest compatriots Mobb Deep, Infamous Mobb, and Dilated Peoples. This collection contains some ill tracks, among my favorites being old Mobb Deep joints where they sound like they used to before Curtis “Million Dollar Budget” Jackson spoiled them. Havoc’s making those bangers he’s known for and Prodigy sounds like his old self again ( you know, the way he sounds on his songs from his new upcoming Koch release...like a homocidal, paranoid drunk/drug addict with just a hint a depression thrown in for good measure).
Out of the 38 total songs that heads might not be too familiar with that are included on these compilations are “Walk With Me” by Havoc, “Deep Meditation” by Lil’ Dap, “First To Drop A Beat The Boldest” by Havoc & G.O.D., “In Jail” by Nashawn, “P Broke The Switch” by Prodigy, “Thug Shit, Queens Cliques” by Capone N’ Noreaga & Kool G Rap, “That’s My Style” by Rapper Noyd, “Stay Bent” by Inspectah Deck, “Kay Slay Shit” by Infamous Mobb & Chinky, “Carved In Stone” by Mobb Deep, “Live At The Amphitheatre” by Alchemist & Twin , “Letting Go” by Chinky, “Fuego”by Tony Touch & L.O.X., “When It Comes To The Beef” by Mobb Deep & I-20, “The Illest” by Havoc, “My Priorities” by Prodigy, and “Respect My Gangster” by Alchemist and Prodigy.
I personally think these two mixtapes were better than Alchemist’s 1st Infantry album (which kind of underwhelmed me, but there were some joints on it). If you’re not familiar with them download ‘em now.
For full tracklistings, cover art or more general info on these uploads check out http://www.discogs.com or do a regular Google search. All uploads are Zip files, download and enjoy ‘em:
The Alchemist presents The Cutting Room Floor 1st Infantry Mixtape Vol. 1 (2004)
http://www.mediafire.com/?5nwymzdnujm
The Alchemist presents Insomnia Alchemist Vs. The Cousin Of Death 1st Infantry Mixtape Vol. 2 (2004)
http://www.mediafire.com/?bkjmmjj3mya
One.
The highlight of the Alchemists mixtapes is that they feature material from his inner circle, dubbed the 1st Infantry that includes his closest compatriots Mobb Deep, Infamous Mobb, and Dilated Peoples. This collection contains some ill tracks, among my favorites being old Mobb Deep joints where they sound like they used to before Curtis “Million Dollar Budget” Jackson spoiled them. Havoc’s making those bangers he’s known for and Prodigy sounds like his old self again ( you know, the way he sounds on his songs from his new upcoming Koch release...like a homocidal, paranoid drunk/drug addict with just a hint a depression thrown in for good measure).
Out of the 38 total songs that heads might not be too familiar with that are included on these compilations are “Walk With Me” by Havoc, “Deep Meditation” by Lil’ Dap, “First To Drop A Beat The Boldest” by Havoc & G.O.D., “In Jail” by Nashawn, “P Broke The Switch” by Prodigy, “Thug Shit, Queens Cliques” by Capone N’ Noreaga & Kool G Rap, “That’s My Style” by Rapper Noyd, “Stay Bent” by Inspectah Deck, “Kay Slay Shit” by Infamous Mobb & Chinky, “Carved In Stone” by Mobb Deep, “Live At The Amphitheatre” by Alchemist & Twin , “Letting Go” by Chinky, “Fuego”by Tony Touch & L.O.X., “When It Comes To The Beef” by Mobb Deep & I-20, “The Illest” by Havoc, “My Priorities” by Prodigy, and “Respect My Gangster” by Alchemist and Prodigy.
I personally think these two mixtapes were better than Alchemist’s 1st Infantry album (which kind of underwhelmed me, but there were some joints on it). If you’re not familiar with them download ‘em now.
For full tracklistings, cover art or more general info on these uploads check out http://www.discogs.com or do a regular Google search. All uploads are Zip files, download and enjoy ‘em:
The Alchemist presents The Cutting Room Floor 1st Infantry Mixtape Vol. 1 (2004)
http://www.mediafire.com/?5nwymzdnujm
The Alchemist presents Insomnia Alchemist Vs. The Cousin Of Death 1st Infantry Mixtape Vol. 2 (2004)
http://www.mediafire.com/?bkjmmjj3mya
One.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Hip Hop CD Singles (They’re Just Like Vinyl 12”s...Only Smaller, In Digital Form And Minus The Pointy Corners)
Here are 8 hip hop singles spanning 10 years from different underground artists. Just to switch it up I’ll give a short synopsis of each release and have the download available underneath the write up itself:
Back in 1994 there were a bunch of indie joints that were made on small labels that got regular burn on the radio, appeared on underground mixtapes and then the artist themselves dissapeared. This is one of them. 5One6 was on Smack Your Bitch Up/Ill Labels (Tommy Boy) and they released this three song single, the gem being “Mystic Micrafon”. The instrumentals for “Mystic Micrafon” and “Rap Attack” were often played in the background on the air while DJ’s were talking on college radio. The tracks were produced by Erik Romero and DJ’s Homicide and Supa V did the cuts. “Rap Attack” featured Bill-Kin and Boog Knight (not from the Boogie Boys). This single includes dirty, radio versions and instrumentals.
5One6-Mystic Micrafon/Dirty Little Bitch/Rap Attack (1994)
http://www.mediafire.com/?ddm2nmnmgwj
After PMD’s deal with RCA Records for his PMD Records imprint went south when his debut solo album failed to sell more than 200,000 units he signed another deal with Relativity for his Boondox imprint. The Relativity deal was a fiasco (no lupe) because they were about to fold and lose distribution. The end result was a lack of promotion for PMD’s “Business Is Business”and shipping issues resulted in the album only selling around 15,000 units. This maxi single consists of the remix of album track“It’s The Pee”. “It’s The Pee ‘97”features Prodigy and is produced by Havoc of Mobb Deep. Other tracks on this maxi single include “Many Often Wonder” produced by PMD, “Knick Knack Part II” produced by PMD featuring Das Efx, Nocturnal & L Da Pro (who sounds like K-Sol and Redman at the same time), and “Kool Kat” produced by Charlie Marotta (Solid Scheme). The world famous “Jesus Christ of two turntables” DJ Scratch himself did all of the cuts.
PMD-It’s The Pee ‘97 Maxi Single (1997)
http://www.mediafire.com/?btzyimidrci
Company Flow’s only existing video was for this song “End To End Burners”. Their time on Rawkus was also coming to a close as the group itself was about to disband. This is the last song that Big Juss AKA Lune TNS ever appeared on as a member of Company Flow (the final Company Flow song “Patriotism” was just El-P with Mr. Len on the cuts). This single also contains a remix of “Krazy Kings” called “Krazy Kings Too” and an alternate version of the instrumental “Blackout” that appears on the final Company Flow project “Little Johnny From The Hospitul”(this one has Mr. Len scratching on it as opposed to just the straight instrumental). All joints were produced by El-P and the cover art was done by the legendary aerosoul artist Phase 2.
Company Flow-End To End Burners/Krazy Kings Too/Blackout (1998)
http://www.mediafire.com/?0mdvnxizh3i
Chicago underground hip hop crew Rubberoom’s first release on their Indus Recordings label deal with the soon defunct 3-2-1/Zero Hour Records is this two song single called “Reconstruction” featuring two songs that didn’t appear on the “Architechnology” LP. The two songs are a remix of “Sector Rush” called “Sector Rush (Rebuilt)” and another joint called “Evil Archangels II”. Both songs were produced by the duo The Opus (Fanum & The Isle Of Weight) and they sound like the soundtracks to Dune, Blade Runner and Escape From New York all smashed together (that’s a good thing to some...to others it’s completely unlistenable). Radio, street and instrumental versions all included.
Rubberoom-Sector Rush (Rebuilt)/Evil Archangels II (1999)
http://www.mediafire.com/?6tzvzzim3wi
In the first of two 3 song Game Recordings singles (before the Columbia deal), Agallah (formerly 8 Off The Assassin) offers a joint where he rhymes in a voice like Cookie Monster from PBS’ Sesame Street over the theme song from the childrens show (Alchemist and Agallah co-produced). The other two joints are the Agallah produced “I Know All Y’all” and “5 Star Millas”. At the time, Agallah was running around with PMD’s side project/group DBD (Death Before Dishonor) and doing production here and there. “Crookie Monster” was a gimmick song but the other joints were solid efforts.
Agallah-Crookie Monster/I Know All Y’all/5 Star Millas (1999)
http://www.mediafire.com/?akndzdyndfg
The next single from former Source Magazine owner Jon Shechter AKA Shecky Green’s Game Recordings label is Thirstin Howl III’s “The Polorican” produced by Blahzay Blahzay’s PF Cuttin. Thirstin Howl III (one of the most original cats of the indie hip hop boom era) spits some hilarious shit in English and Spanish (it also was used as the exit music for the godawful hood film “Boricua’s Bond”). The sequel to the Rawkus “Soundbombing 2” single “Brooklyn Hard Rock 2” was produced by frequent collaborator Smitty and features Unique London (the same one that’s the makeup artist for BET’s “106 & Park) and Master Fuol (the dude from MTV’s Lyricist Lounge Show). The final song on the single is the Will Tell produced “Skill Or Be Skilled” featuring fellow Lo Lifer Rack Lo. Inbetween Thirstin’s “Skillionaire” album, his Rawkus and Game singles, his “Skillosopher” album and his appearances on MTV’s Lyricist Lounge Show, he was one of the most visible underground artists of the era.
Thirstin Howl III-The Polorican/Brooklyn Hard Rock 2/Skilled Or Be Skilled (2000)
http://www.mediafire.com/?7nj3vyvjhlj
Dante Ross’ Stimulated label on Loud Records was doomed. Loud Records folded shortly after Dante made the deal and his roster of Camp Lo, Sadat X, Cella Dwellas, Del the Funkee Homosapien and Missin’ Linx all had projects wrapped up in red tape and thrown into limbo shortly after their release. This Camp Lo single for “Trouble Man” (produced by Jocko) and “Cookers” (produced by frequent collaborator Ski) also features snippets fromCasual, Del and Missin’ Linx that were to appear on the compliation “Stimulated Vol. 1” (I don’t know if this was ever released, if anyone out there has info on it then let me know). Both of these songs are bangers and among my favorite all time Camp Lo songs (which is a long ass list).
Camp Lo-Trouble Man/Cookers (2001)
http://www.mediafire.com/?51ej1zzm1yz
This Juggaknots EP contains some previously released promo material as well as a few proper songs from Breeze and Queen Herawin. Buddy Slim produced most of the joints (“Settle Down”, “P Rushen” featuring Vinia Mojica, & “The Formula Song”) and DJ Eli contributed the lead track “She Loves Me Not”. Mixtape promo joints spit over other peoples beats include “Justalittlefake”, a diss track to Justin Timberlake from Breeze following the fallout from “Nipplegate” after the 2003 Super Bowl over OutKast’s “Ms. Jackson” beat. Queen Herawin’s “Vibrant Thing” over Q Tip’s “Vivrant Thing” beat. “Dreams 2002” where Breeze does an update of the Biggie Smalls classic over the same beat and finally “Lose Yourself” where Breeze spits heat over the same beat that Eminem made famous. This EP has 8 songs on it but 14 total tracks including instrumentals and alternate versions of “She Loves Me Not” and “P Rushen”(which has Herawin and Vinia Mojica’s acapellas). Fans of the Juggaknots shouldn’t sleep on this.
Juggaknots-The Love Deluxe Movement EP (2004)
http://www.mediafire.com/?6ttjmovtoh4
One.
Back in 1994 there were a bunch of indie joints that were made on small labels that got regular burn on the radio, appeared on underground mixtapes and then the artist themselves dissapeared. This is one of them. 5One6 was on Smack Your Bitch Up/Ill Labels (Tommy Boy) and they released this three song single, the gem being “Mystic Micrafon”. The instrumentals for “Mystic Micrafon” and “Rap Attack” were often played in the background on the air while DJ’s were talking on college radio. The tracks were produced by Erik Romero and DJ’s Homicide and Supa V did the cuts. “Rap Attack” featured Bill-Kin and Boog Knight (not from the Boogie Boys). This single includes dirty, radio versions and instrumentals.
5One6-Mystic Micrafon/Dirty Little Bitch/Rap Attack (1994)
http://www.mediafire.com/?ddm2nmnmgwj
After PMD’s deal with RCA Records for his PMD Records imprint went south when his debut solo album failed to sell more than 200,000 units he signed another deal with Relativity for his Boondox imprint. The Relativity deal was a fiasco (no lupe) because they were about to fold and lose distribution. The end result was a lack of promotion for PMD’s “Business Is Business”and shipping issues resulted in the album only selling around 15,000 units. This maxi single consists of the remix of album track“It’s The Pee”. “It’s The Pee ‘97”features Prodigy and is produced by Havoc of Mobb Deep. Other tracks on this maxi single include “Many Often Wonder” produced by PMD, “Knick Knack Part II” produced by PMD featuring Das Efx, Nocturnal & L Da Pro (who sounds like K-Sol and Redman at the same time), and “Kool Kat” produced by Charlie Marotta (Solid Scheme). The world famous “Jesus Christ of two turntables” DJ Scratch himself did all of the cuts.
PMD-It’s The Pee ‘97 Maxi Single (1997)
http://www.mediafire.com/?btzyimidrci
Company Flow’s only existing video was for this song “End To End Burners”. Their time on Rawkus was also coming to a close as the group itself was about to disband. This is the last song that Big Juss AKA Lune TNS ever appeared on as a member of Company Flow (the final Company Flow song “Patriotism” was just El-P with Mr. Len on the cuts). This single also contains a remix of “Krazy Kings” called “Krazy Kings Too” and an alternate version of the instrumental “Blackout” that appears on the final Company Flow project “Little Johnny From The Hospitul”(this one has Mr. Len scratching on it as opposed to just the straight instrumental). All joints were produced by El-P and the cover art was done by the legendary aerosoul artist Phase 2.
Company Flow-End To End Burners/Krazy Kings Too/Blackout (1998)
http://www.mediafire.com/?0mdvnxizh3i
Chicago underground hip hop crew Rubberoom’s first release on their Indus Recordings label deal with the soon defunct 3-2-1/Zero Hour Records is this two song single called “Reconstruction” featuring two songs that didn’t appear on the “Architechnology” LP. The two songs are a remix of “Sector Rush” called “Sector Rush (Rebuilt)” and another joint called “Evil Archangels II”. Both songs were produced by the duo The Opus (Fanum & The Isle Of Weight) and they sound like the soundtracks to Dune, Blade Runner and Escape From New York all smashed together (that’s a good thing to some...to others it’s completely unlistenable). Radio, street and instrumental versions all included.
Rubberoom-Sector Rush (Rebuilt)/Evil Archangels II (1999)
http://www.mediafire.com/?6tzvzzim3wi
In the first of two 3 song Game Recordings singles (before the Columbia deal), Agallah (formerly 8 Off The Assassin) offers a joint where he rhymes in a voice like Cookie Monster from PBS’ Sesame Street over the theme song from the childrens show (Alchemist and Agallah co-produced). The other two joints are the Agallah produced “I Know All Y’all” and “5 Star Millas”. At the time, Agallah was running around with PMD’s side project/group DBD (Death Before Dishonor) and doing production here and there. “Crookie Monster” was a gimmick song but the other joints were solid efforts.
Agallah-Crookie Monster/I Know All Y’all/5 Star Millas (1999)
http://www.mediafire.com/?akndzdyndfg
The next single from former Source Magazine owner Jon Shechter AKA Shecky Green’s Game Recordings label is Thirstin Howl III’s “The Polorican” produced by Blahzay Blahzay’s PF Cuttin. Thirstin Howl III (one of the most original cats of the indie hip hop boom era) spits some hilarious shit in English and Spanish (it also was used as the exit music for the godawful hood film “Boricua’s Bond”). The sequel to the Rawkus “Soundbombing 2” single “Brooklyn Hard Rock 2” was produced by frequent collaborator Smitty and features Unique London (the same one that’s the makeup artist for BET’s “106 & Park) and Master Fuol (the dude from MTV’s Lyricist Lounge Show). The final song on the single is the Will Tell produced “Skill Or Be Skilled” featuring fellow Lo Lifer Rack Lo. Inbetween Thirstin’s “Skillionaire” album, his Rawkus and Game singles, his “Skillosopher” album and his appearances on MTV’s Lyricist Lounge Show, he was one of the most visible underground artists of the era.
Thirstin Howl III-The Polorican/Brooklyn Hard Rock 2/Skilled Or Be Skilled (2000)
http://www.mediafire.com/?7nj3vyvjhlj
Dante Ross’ Stimulated label on Loud Records was doomed. Loud Records folded shortly after Dante made the deal and his roster of Camp Lo, Sadat X, Cella Dwellas, Del the Funkee Homosapien and Missin’ Linx all had projects wrapped up in red tape and thrown into limbo shortly after their release. This Camp Lo single for “Trouble Man” (produced by Jocko) and “Cookers” (produced by frequent collaborator Ski) also features snippets fromCasual, Del and Missin’ Linx that were to appear on the compliation “Stimulated Vol. 1” (I don’t know if this was ever released, if anyone out there has info on it then let me know). Both of these songs are bangers and among my favorite all time Camp Lo songs (which is a long ass list).
Camp Lo-Trouble Man/Cookers (2001)
http://www.mediafire.com/?51ej1zzm1yz
This Juggaknots EP contains some previously released promo material as well as a few proper songs from Breeze and Queen Herawin. Buddy Slim produced most of the joints (“Settle Down”, “P Rushen” featuring Vinia Mojica, & “The Formula Song”) and DJ Eli contributed the lead track “She Loves Me Not”. Mixtape promo joints spit over other peoples beats include “Justalittlefake”, a diss track to Justin Timberlake from Breeze following the fallout from “Nipplegate” after the 2003 Super Bowl over OutKast’s “Ms. Jackson” beat. Queen Herawin’s “Vibrant Thing” over Q Tip’s “Vivrant Thing” beat. “Dreams 2002” where Breeze does an update of the Biggie Smalls classic over the same beat and finally “Lose Yourself” where Breeze spits heat over the same beat that Eminem made famous. This EP has 8 songs on it but 14 total tracks including instrumentals and alternate versions of “She Loves Me Not” and “P Rushen”(which has Herawin and Vinia Mojica’s acapellas). Fans of the Juggaknots shouldn’t sleep on this.
Juggaknots-The Love Deluxe Movement EP (2004)
http://www.mediafire.com/?6ttjmovtoh4
One.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Only The Illest Hood Classics AKA Dartflix Edition #7
The definition of a hood classic is a film or movie, regardless of genre that has gained cult staus amongst inner city dwellers. These were the flicks that were always out at the hood video stores but had an inch of dust on them at the other ones. There isn’t a specific formula to what makes a hood classic. A lot of times it can be an overlooked movie that became a popular rental later, a movie that is/was geared to urban audiences (literally, a “hood” movie), a straight to DVD movie that someone rented and spread the word about or an international movie that heads saw once or twice on cable back in 2002 that has taken on a new life as a DVD/rental now. I’ll list quite a few of them (damn near 100), some you may be up on and others...not so much. Keep in mind that a lot of the movies that would’ve been in the “Hood classics” list below have already been used in previous lists so I used some other flicks that have yet to be used in this one. Let us proceed...
Dart’s Three Trailers Of The Week (2/11/07- 2/17/07):
The Reaping
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0444682/trailers
Pathfinder
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0446013/trailers
Premonition
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477071/trailers
Hood classics available for rent through Netflix:
City Of God
Hoodlum
Blade
Blade 2
Blade Trinity
Three Kings
Heat
Soul In The Hole
The Fifth Element
Young Guns
Young Guns 2
Spartan
The Crow
Ned Kelly
Gummo
The Transporter
The Transporter 2
Raising Victor Vargas
Bluehill Avenue
Dirty
Jason’s Lyric
Lock, Stock & 2 Smoking Barrels
Snatch
Donnie Brasco
21 Grams
The Killer
Bard Boiled
City Of Fire
Infernal Affairs
Infernal Affairs 2
Infernal Affairs 3
Empire
Bloodsport
Kickboxer
The Last Dragon
Undercover Brother
Hoop Dreams
Event Horizon
Narc
From Hell
Made
Marked For Death
Hard To Kill
Out For Justice
Kalifornia
Friday
From Dusk Til Dawn
Wonderland
Confidence
Man On Fire
Bringing Out The Dead
Colors
Predator
Predator 2
Clockers
Thirteen
Mi Vida Loca
Stigmata
Bolier Room
Go
A Bronx Tale
Foxy Brown
Ronin
Barbershop
Barbershop 2: Back In Business
New Jersey Drive
Coach Carter
Suicide Kings
Strange Days
Kids
The Jacket
Bully
Dolemite
12 Monkeys
South Central
Brotherhood Of The Wolf
Boyz N The Hood
Road To Perdition
Fight Club
Willy Dynamite
Traffic
The Wood
Kill Bill
Kill Bill 2
Cleopatra Jones
Running Scared
Brown Sugar
Leon The Professional
Malcolm X
The Player’s Club
No Escape
Belly
Hav Plenty
Boondock Saints
Uptown Saturday Night
Freeway
ATL
Hollywood Shuffle
Sleepers
Soul Food
Gridlock’d
Let’s Do It Again
Crooklyn
Commando
House Party
House Party 2
House Party 3
3 The Hard Way
The Best Man
Blood In, Blood Out..Bound Together By Honor
Desperado
Roger Dodger
Memento
Shaft (1972)
Shaft (2001)
Way Of The Gun
Once Upon A Time In Mexico
Ichi The Killer
White Men Can’t Jump
Menace II Society
Mo Better Blues
Black Caesar
Total Recall
Zebrahead
The Believer
Black & White
The Warriors
Blow
Training Day
Carlito’s Way
Posse
The Other Brother
State Property
Spun
I’m Gonna Git You Sucka
A Man Apart
City Of Lost Souls
Basic
Higher Learning
25th Hour
Phone Booth
Tears Of The Sun
Dart’s Picks:
Whatever flicks from this list your aren’t up on check ‘em out. If anyone has questions about any of these joints just shoot me a question about ‘em in the comment box.
Dart’s WTF? Awards/Watch This Bullshit At Your Own Risk:
You know as soon as you see trailer in the previews at the movie theatre that it’s gonna suck...you don’t need me to list a bunch of wack shit for you on this one.
I won’t do the genre specific posts anymore (I've dropped enough jewels over the past month and a half). From now on I’ll just list the new releases for the week/month and some slept on joints here and there (like I did with the first one). Next week it’ll be a whole different set up for Dartflix.
One.
Dart’s Three Trailers Of The Week (2/11/07- 2/17/07):
The Reaping
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0444682/trailers
Pathfinder
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0446013/trailers
Premonition
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477071/trailers
Hood classics available for rent through Netflix:
City Of God
Hoodlum
Blade
Blade 2
Blade Trinity
Three Kings
Heat
Soul In The Hole
The Fifth Element
Young Guns
Young Guns 2
Spartan
The Crow
Ned Kelly
Gummo
The Transporter
The Transporter 2
Raising Victor Vargas
Bluehill Avenue
Dirty
Jason’s Lyric
Lock, Stock & 2 Smoking Barrels
Snatch
Donnie Brasco
21 Grams
The Killer
Bard Boiled
City Of Fire
Infernal Affairs
Infernal Affairs 2
Infernal Affairs 3
Empire
Bloodsport
Kickboxer
The Last Dragon
Undercover Brother
Hoop Dreams
Event Horizon
Narc
From Hell
Made
Marked For Death
Hard To Kill
Out For Justice
Kalifornia
Friday
From Dusk Til Dawn
Wonderland
Confidence
Man On Fire
Bringing Out The Dead
Colors
Predator
Predator 2
Clockers
Thirteen
Mi Vida Loca
Stigmata
Bolier Room
Go
A Bronx Tale
Foxy Brown
Ronin
Barbershop
Barbershop 2: Back In Business
New Jersey Drive
Coach Carter
Suicide Kings
Strange Days
Kids
The Jacket
Bully
Dolemite
12 Monkeys
South Central
Brotherhood Of The Wolf
Boyz N The Hood
Road To Perdition
Fight Club
Willy Dynamite
Traffic
The Wood
Kill Bill
Kill Bill 2
Cleopatra Jones
Running Scared
Brown Sugar
Leon The Professional
Malcolm X
The Player’s Club
No Escape
Belly
Hav Plenty
Boondock Saints
Uptown Saturday Night
Freeway
ATL
Hollywood Shuffle
Sleepers
Soul Food
Gridlock’d
Let’s Do It Again
Crooklyn
Commando
House Party
House Party 2
House Party 3
3 The Hard Way
The Best Man
Blood In, Blood Out..Bound Together By Honor
Desperado
Roger Dodger
Memento
Shaft (1972)
Shaft (2001)
Way Of The Gun
Once Upon A Time In Mexico
Ichi The Killer
White Men Can’t Jump
Menace II Society
Mo Better Blues
Black Caesar
Total Recall
Zebrahead
The Believer
Black & White
The Warriors
Blow
Training Day
Carlito’s Way
Posse
The Other Brother
State Property
Spun
I’m Gonna Git You Sucka
A Man Apart
City Of Lost Souls
Basic
Higher Learning
25th Hour
Phone Booth
Tears Of The Sun
Dart’s Picks:
Whatever flicks from this list your aren’t up on check ‘em out. If anyone has questions about any of these joints just shoot me a question about ‘em in the comment box.
Dart’s WTF? Awards/Watch This Bullshit At Your Own Risk:
You know as soon as you see trailer in the previews at the movie theatre that it’s gonna suck...you don’t need me to list a bunch of wack shit for you on this one.
I won’t do the genre specific posts anymore (I've dropped enough jewels over the past month and a half). From now on I’ll just list the new releases for the week/month and some slept on joints here and there (like I did with the first one). Next week it’ll be a whole different set up for Dartflix.
One.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Two Mixtapes That Mos Def Co-Signed & The Other Hip Hop Band’s CD
This Valentine's Day post consists of 2 mixtapes that Mos Def put his name on in 2004 around the time he released “The New Danger” and the debut album by hip hop’s 2nd most famous band. Namely, these albums are U-Know The Flex The Mixtape Vol. 1, Bronx Meets Brooklyn & Dujeous’ City Limits.
Mos Def’s old crew UTD (Urban Thermo Dynamics) was made up of his brother Jashiya and his sister Ces. They had an album “Manifest Destiny”get held in label limbo and they were dropped from the label and released from their deal. Mos Def did some acting and honed his skills doing spoken word at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe and spittin’ at open mics such as the Lyricist Lounge with his boy Talib Kweli. He eventually signed a deal with Rawkus and his brother Jashiya formed a new crew with his people called Medina Green. Mos Def helped his people get a one off 12” deal on Rawkus which resulted in the classic single “Crosstown Beef/Fa La Lashe” (the cover is included on my blog).
The success of the single led to attention from labels, namely the newly formed Tommy Boy Black Label which was overseen by De La Soul. Medina Green had the underground smash “I See” appear on the compilation “Tommy Boy Black Label presents Hip Hop 101” (which is available on this very blog). Tommy Boy dropped the ball with the label, forcing Medina Green to instead ink a deal with indie label Mammoth Records where they released the single “I See/Full Court Press” for their upcoming album...unfortunately that album never materialized. Jashiya took on the name illson and formed Illson Media, releasing mixtapes such as this one: U-Know The Flex containing both old and new material (including the song “Beef” from his brother Mos Def). It’s worth a listen at least.
Bronx Meets Brooklyn is hosted by Minnesota (Money Boss Players/Larceny Inc.) and Mos Def. The two are known for collaborating on Mos Def’s last two albums “The New Danger” and “Tru3 Magic”. They decided to put out a dual mixtape featuring old Money Boss Player material, songs by the groups newer incarnation, the Boss Money Gangsters and other Minnesota produced Mos Def joints that can’t be found anywhere else ( “It’s Brooklyn”, “Summertime”, & “Ambition”). Of course, “Beef” also appears on this mixtape with “Grown Man Business” featuring Minnesota from “The New Danger”. Money Boss Players’ extended fam Joe Grind and Big Mega appear alongside Kurupt and Sadat X. This mixtape is better put together than the previous one...even though I got them 2 for $8 off of Sandbox Automatic 3 years ago. Download this mixtape.
When you think of hip hop bands, what groups come to mind? Most people are only aware of the legendary Roots Crew. There have been several throughout history, the first were the in-house bands for Enjoy and Sugar Hill Records and next to make noise was Stetsasonic. After Stetsasonic disbanded following their “Blood, Sweat & No Tears” LP it was years before another hip hop band appeared on the scene. The Roots (then known as the Square Roots) were coming up in Philadelphia around the same time that bands were backing hip hop acts and emcees at spots like the Good Life Cafe in LA.
By 1999, the same year Dujeous released their first vinyl single on their own imprint Wax Poetic (“All M.C.’s/Spilt Milk”) there were quite a few hip hop bands on the scene. The Roots, Dujeous, Survival Sounds (they played the backing music on the 2nd disc of the Lyricist Lounge CD) and Rocky LaMontage’s All That Band were all pretty well known. Dujeous released singles and a CD while touring and playing on several projects (such as on Rob Swift’s “The Ablist”). They built up quite a following before finally signing with short lived indie label Third Earth Music and releasing this CD “City Limits” in 2004.
The 16 tracks were produced by Dujeous (with some help from legendary producer Sam Sever) and features the talents of emcees Mas D, Mojo & Rheturik. Apex, David Guy, Taylor Rivelli, and Tomek are the core of the band. These cats have recently played the music for the Crank Yankers theme (with Rhymefest) and currently are the travelling band of UK pop sensation Lily Allen (I got the idea to upload this album after seeing Dujeous as Lily Allen’s backup band last night on Conan). If you aren’t familiar with these cats then download this album now.
For full tracklistings, cover art or more general info on these uploads check out http://www.discogs.com or do a regular Google search. All uploads are Zip files, download and enjoy ‘em:
Mos Def & Illson Media presents Medina Green U-Know The Flex The Mixtape Vol. 1 (2004)
http://www.mediafire.com/?2vxz2duygjv
Bronx Meets Brookyln (Hosted by Minnesota & Mos Def) (2004)
http://www.mediafire.com/?5kzxhmmamqy
Dujeous-City Limits (2004)
http://www.mediafire.com/?aenimanwn1w
One.
Mos Def’s old crew UTD (Urban Thermo Dynamics) was made up of his brother Jashiya and his sister Ces. They had an album “Manifest Destiny”get held in label limbo and they were dropped from the label and released from their deal. Mos Def did some acting and honed his skills doing spoken word at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe and spittin’ at open mics such as the Lyricist Lounge with his boy Talib Kweli. He eventually signed a deal with Rawkus and his brother Jashiya formed a new crew with his people called Medina Green. Mos Def helped his people get a one off 12” deal on Rawkus which resulted in the classic single “Crosstown Beef/Fa La Lashe” (the cover is included on my blog).
The success of the single led to attention from labels, namely the newly formed Tommy Boy Black Label which was overseen by De La Soul. Medina Green had the underground smash “I See” appear on the compilation “Tommy Boy Black Label presents Hip Hop 101” (which is available on this very blog). Tommy Boy dropped the ball with the label, forcing Medina Green to instead ink a deal with indie label Mammoth Records where they released the single “I See/Full Court Press” for their upcoming album...unfortunately that album never materialized. Jashiya took on the name illson and formed Illson Media, releasing mixtapes such as this one: U-Know The Flex containing both old and new material (including the song “Beef” from his brother Mos Def). It’s worth a listen at least.
Bronx Meets Brooklyn is hosted by Minnesota (Money Boss Players/Larceny Inc.) and Mos Def. The two are known for collaborating on Mos Def’s last two albums “The New Danger” and “Tru3 Magic”. They decided to put out a dual mixtape featuring old Money Boss Player material, songs by the groups newer incarnation, the Boss Money Gangsters and other Minnesota produced Mos Def joints that can’t be found anywhere else ( “It’s Brooklyn”, “Summertime”, & “Ambition”). Of course, “Beef” also appears on this mixtape with “Grown Man Business” featuring Minnesota from “The New Danger”. Money Boss Players’ extended fam Joe Grind and Big Mega appear alongside Kurupt and Sadat X. This mixtape is better put together than the previous one...even though I got them 2 for $8 off of Sandbox Automatic 3 years ago. Download this mixtape.
When you think of hip hop bands, what groups come to mind? Most people are only aware of the legendary Roots Crew. There have been several throughout history, the first were the in-house bands for Enjoy and Sugar Hill Records and next to make noise was Stetsasonic. After Stetsasonic disbanded following their “Blood, Sweat & No Tears” LP it was years before another hip hop band appeared on the scene. The Roots (then known as the Square Roots) were coming up in Philadelphia around the same time that bands were backing hip hop acts and emcees at spots like the Good Life Cafe in LA.
By 1999, the same year Dujeous released their first vinyl single on their own imprint Wax Poetic (“All M.C.’s/Spilt Milk”) there were quite a few hip hop bands on the scene. The Roots, Dujeous, Survival Sounds (they played the backing music on the 2nd disc of the Lyricist Lounge CD) and Rocky LaMontage’s All That Band were all pretty well known. Dujeous released singles and a CD while touring and playing on several projects (such as on Rob Swift’s “The Ablist”). They built up quite a following before finally signing with short lived indie label Third Earth Music and releasing this CD “City Limits” in 2004.
The 16 tracks were produced by Dujeous (with some help from legendary producer Sam Sever) and features the talents of emcees Mas D, Mojo & Rheturik. Apex, David Guy, Taylor Rivelli, and Tomek are the core of the band. These cats have recently played the music for the Crank Yankers theme (with Rhymefest) and currently are the travelling band of UK pop sensation Lily Allen (I got the idea to upload this album after seeing Dujeous as Lily Allen’s backup band last night on Conan). If you aren’t familiar with these cats then download this album now.
For full tracklistings, cover art or more general info on these uploads check out http://www.discogs.com or do a regular Google search. All uploads are Zip files, download and enjoy ‘em:
Mos Def & Illson Media presents Medina Green U-Know The Flex The Mixtape Vol. 1 (2004)
http://www.mediafire.com/?2vxz2duygjv
Bronx Meets Brookyln (Hosted by Minnesota & Mos Def) (2004)
http://www.mediafire.com/?5kzxhmmamqy
Dujeous-City Limits (2004)
http://www.mediafire.com/?aenimanwn1w
One.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Hittin’ You From Every Angle
Today I decided to switch it up and upload five different overlooked projects, namely Tricky presents Grassroots, Royal Flush’s Ghetto Millionaire, Peanut Butter Wolf’s My Vinyl Weighs A Ton, Nuthouse’s Deez Nutz, and Masterminds’ The Underground Railroad.
Tricky first appeared on the scene with Massive Attack as Tricky Kid, he later set off on his own and surfaced again with the project “Nearly God”. It wasn’t until he released the classic album “Maxinquaye” in 1995 that Tricky was finally recognized as a visionary and a producer (he has also appeared in the film “The Fifth Element” and had a recurring role on “Girlfriends”). In 1996, he traveled to New York and negotiated a short lived deal with PayDay/FFRR for his own label Durban Poison (named after Tricky’s favorite brand of weed).
Tricky then spent some time in the famed D&D Studios with his partner Drunkenstein, D&D engineer Eddie Sancho and Big Jaz AKA Jaz-O to release the first (and only) joint under his new imprint label. Guests include underground heroes Hilfiguz, vocalists Laveda Davis and Stephanie Cooke and rapper Roberto Malary Jr. (I’ve never heard of him either). This EP has 5 tracks, one of the being an alternate version of “Tricky Kid” remixed by Eddie Sancho (the original version appears on Tricky’s “Pre-Millenium Tension” LP). Just to warn y’all, there will be more Tricky projects appearing in this blog in the future. Download it and listen.
The 2nd Golden Era of Hip Hop had come to a close and the post Telecommunications Act Era had just begun. It was 1997 and one of the many classics released that year came from Flushing, Queens own Royal Flush. Ghetto Millionaire was released by Blunt/TVT Records (home to Mic Geronimo and Cash Money Click) and featured production by EZ Elpee (“Iced Down Medallions”, “Family Problems”, “What A Shame”, “Regulate”), Buckwild (“I Been Gettin’ So Much $”, “Niggas Night Out”, & “Makin’ Moves”), L.E.S. (“Worldwide” & “Reppin’”), Da Beatminerz (“Movin’ On Ya Weak Production”), Sha Self (“Conflict”), Hi-Tek (“Shines”), ChySkillz (“International Currency”), and Low (“Dead Letter”), the rest was produced by Royal Flush, his brother Rudy Govantes, and Prince Kaysaan.
Royal Flush ‘s first project featured his peoples Wastlanz, Noreaga and Mic Geronimo (his boy and TVT labelmate). Royal Flush is one of the most overlooked emcees in the game and considering how nice he is on the mic and what a good businessman he is (he ghostwrote a lot of joints and he won’t divulge who his clients are/were) it’s a surprise he never blew...just listen to this album for proof.The standout tracks on this album include the mixtape staples “Iced Down Medallions”, “Illiodic Shines”, “Movin’ On Ya Weak Productions”, “Conflict”, “Shines”, “Family Problems”, “What A Shame”, “Regulate”, “Worldwide”, “International Currency” and “Dead Letter”. If you missed out on hearing this album or you weren’t one of the 100,000 that bought it when it was in print, download it and get your head nod on.
Stones Throw owner Peanut Butter Wolf’s solo album “My Vinyl Weighs A Ton” was relased on UK label Copasetik Recordings in early 1999. The album featured The Lootpack, Planet Asia, Rasco, Kazi, Grand The Visitor, Zest, Pablo, Persevere, Dave Dub and Charizma (R.I.P.) all rhyming over PB Wolf’s beats. The album also contains some turntable joints featuring DJ Design, Mr. Dibbs, DJ Babu, Rhettmatic, Kid Kaola, Rob Swift, A Trak, DJ Handz, Z Trip, Total Eclipse, DJ Quest, J Rocc, Shortkut, Cut Chemist and Vinroc (Most of them appearing on the turntable posse joint “A Tale Of Five Cities”). Bangers include “In Your Area”, “Styles Crew Flow Beats”, “Hold Up”, “Necromancin’”, “Breaks Em Down”, “Definition Of Ill”, “Keep On Rockin’ It”, “Run The Line”, “Mobbin’” and “Competition Gets None”. Check this joint out.
Nuthouse’s first release was on Bobbito Garcia’s Fondle ‘Em Records. They released the sucessful 12” “A Luv Supream/Synapsis/” and received a reutation on the underground as an up and coming group. They sprung up later in 2000, signed with indie label GoodVibe Recordings (who also released projects by Bahamadia, Phil Da Agony, Spontaneous, & Mystic) and released the EP “Deez Nutz”.
The graf writin’ rhyme spittin’ crew made 8 tracks that featured production from Nex Millen (“Introducing..Deez Nutz”, “Interlude #2” and “Correct Technic”), Adam Bomb (“Tagz, Throw Ups & Pieces” and “The Proposal”), Jahee (“Forget About It” and “Interlude #1”), and Fel theEnigma (“Proceed 2 Build” & “Infinite Potential”). Later on, Dave Ghetto of Nuthouse went solo. The cover art of this EP was done by Az Iz of Da Outsidaz. Download it now.
The crew Masterminds (Oracle, Epod, and Kimani Rogers) was relatively well known in underground circlesand they developed friendships with Organized Konfusion, A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, and Common (who often let them open for them on tour). They made several vinyl singles before eventually signing with Ground Control Recordsand releasing “The Underground Railroad” in 2000.
The album’s 15 tracks were mostly produced by Epod and Kimani Rogers except for “Joints 2000” which was produced by Mr. Khaliyl formerly of Da Bush Babees, “Shellshocked” produced by Poisoned Ivy and “Memories” produced by Emmai Alaquiva. This project has features from Mr. Khaliyl (“Bring It Back”and “Joints 2000”), underground vet L Fudge (“Onetwo three”), Boston rhyme animal and Def Jukie Mr. Lif (“No Test”) and one of the most slept on posse joints of the 00’s “Seven” featuring the all star lineup of El-P, J-Live, J-Treds, Shabaam Sahdeeq, and Mr. Complex. The album closes with the outro “Free” where vocalist Jasmine Lee sings and Judy Rogers recites a piece of the Francis Ellen Watkins Harper poem “She’s Free”. Download this joint if you missed it back when it first dropped.
For full tracklistings, cover art or more general info on these uploads check out http://www.discogs.com or do a regular Google search. All uploads are Zip files, download and enjoy ‘em:
Tricky presents Grassroots (1996)
http://www.mediafire.com/?0jjozymgjxd
Royal Flush-Ghetto Millionaire (1997)
http://www.mediafire.com/?7wg0yxtmz2g
Peanut Butter Wolf-My Vinyl Weighs A Ton (1999)
http://www.mediafire.com/?1ydmt2d2mjz
Nuthouse-Deez Nutz EP (2000)
http://www.mediafire.com/?9m1tm2kznww
Masterminds-The Underground Railroad (2000)
http://www.mediafire.com/?2tmttmtxnm1
One.
Tricky first appeared on the scene with Massive Attack as Tricky Kid, he later set off on his own and surfaced again with the project “Nearly God”. It wasn’t until he released the classic album “Maxinquaye” in 1995 that Tricky was finally recognized as a visionary and a producer (he has also appeared in the film “The Fifth Element” and had a recurring role on “Girlfriends”). In 1996, he traveled to New York and negotiated a short lived deal with PayDay/FFRR for his own label Durban Poison (named after Tricky’s favorite brand of weed).
Tricky then spent some time in the famed D&D Studios with his partner Drunkenstein, D&D engineer Eddie Sancho and Big Jaz AKA Jaz-O to release the first (and only) joint under his new imprint label. Guests include underground heroes Hilfiguz, vocalists Laveda Davis and Stephanie Cooke and rapper Roberto Malary Jr. (I’ve never heard of him either). This EP has 5 tracks, one of the being an alternate version of “Tricky Kid” remixed by Eddie Sancho (the original version appears on Tricky’s “Pre-Millenium Tension” LP). Just to warn y’all, there will be more Tricky projects appearing in this blog in the future. Download it and listen.
The 2nd Golden Era of Hip Hop had come to a close and the post Telecommunications Act Era had just begun. It was 1997 and one of the many classics released that year came from Flushing, Queens own Royal Flush. Ghetto Millionaire was released by Blunt/TVT Records (home to Mic Geronimo and Cash Money Click) and featured production by EZ Elpee (“Iced Down Medallions”, “Family Problems”, “What A Shame”, “Regulate”), Buckwild (“I Been Gettin’ So Much $”, “Niggas Night Out”, & “Makin’ Moves”), L.E.S. (“Worldwide” & “Reppin’”), Da Beatminerz (“Movin’ On Ya Weak Production”), Sha Self (“Conflict”), Hi-Tek (“Shines”), ChySkillz (“International Currency”), and Low (“Dead Letter”), the rest was produced by Royal Flush, his brother Rudy Govantes, and Prince Kaysaan.
Royal Flush ‘s first project featured his peoples Wastlanz, Noreaga and Mic Geronimo (his boy and TVT labelmate). Royal Flush is one of the most overlooked emcees in the game and considering how nice he is on the mic and what a good businessman he is (he ghostwrote a lot of joints and he won’t divulge who his clients are/were) it’s a surprise he never blew...just listen to this album for proof.The standout tracks on this album include the mixtape staples “Iced Down Medallions”, “Illiodic Shines”, “Movin’ On Ya Weak Productions”, “Conflict”, “Shines”, “Family Problems”, “What A Shame”, “Regulate”, “Worldwide”, “International Currency” and “Dead Letter”. If you missed out on hearing this album or you weren’t one of the 100,000 that bought it when it was in print, download it and get your head nod on.
Stones Throw owner Peanut Butter Wolf’s solo album “My Vinyl Weighs A Ton” was relased on UK label Copasetik Recordings in early 1999. The album featured The Lootpack, Planet Asia, Rasco, Kazi, Grand The Visitor, Zest, Pablo, Persevere, Dave Dub and Charizma (R.I.P.) all rhyming over PB Wolf’s beats. The album also contains some turntable joints featuring DJ Design, Mr. Dibbs, DJ Babu, Rhettmatic, Kid Kaola, Rob Swift, A Trak, DJ Handz, Z Trip, Total Eclipse, DJ Quest, J Rocc, Shortkut, Cut Chemist and Vinroc (Most of them appearing on the turntable posse joint “A Tale Of Five Cities”). Bangers include “In Your Area”, “Styles Crew Flow Beats”, “Hold Up”, “Necromancin’”, “Breaks Em Down”, “Definition Of Ill”, “Keep On Rockin’ It”, “Run The Line”, “Mobbin’” and “Competition Gets None”. Check this joint out.
Nuthouse’s first release was on Bobbito Garcia’s Fondle ‘Em Records. They released the sucessful 12” “A Luv Supream/Synapsis/” and received a reutation on the underground as an up and coming group. They sprung up later in 2000, signed with indie label GoodVibe Recordings (who also released projects by Bahamadia, Phil Da Agony, Spontaneous, & Mystic) and released the EP “Deez Nutz”.
The graf writin’ rhyme spittin’ crew made 8 tracks that featured production from Nex Millen (“Introducing..Deez Nutz”, “Interlude #2” and “Correct Technic”), Adam Bomb (“Tagz, Throw Ups & Pieces” and “The Proposal”), Jahee (“Forget About It” and “Interlude #1”), and Fel theEnigma (“Proceed 2 Build” & “Infinite Potential”). Later on, Dave Ghetto of Nuthouse went solo. The cover art of this EP was done by Az Iz of Da Outsidaz. Download it now.
The crew Masterminds (Oracle, Epod, and Kimani Rogers) was relatively well known in underground circlesand they developed friendships with Organized Konfusion, A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, and Common (who often let them open for them on tour). They made several vinyl singles before eventually signing with Ground Control Recordsand releasing “The Underground Railroad” in 2000.
The album’s 15 tracks were mostly produced by Epod and Kimani Rogers except for “Joints 2000” which was produced by Mr. Khaliyl formerly of Da Bush Babees, “Shellshocked” produced by Poisoned Ivy and “Memories” produced by Emmai Alaquiva. This project has features from Mr. Khaliyl (“Bring It Back”and “Joints 2000”), underground vet L Fudge (“Onetwo three”), Boston rhyme animal and Def Jukie Mr. Lif (“No Test”) and one of the most slept on posse joints of the 00’s “Seven” featuring the all star lineup of El-P, J-Live, J-Treds, Shabaam Sahdeeq, and Mr. Complex. The album closes with the outro “Free” where vocalist Jasmine Lee sings and Judy Rogers recites a piece of the Francis Ellen Watkins Harper poem “She’s Free”. Download this joint if you missed it back when it first dropped.
For full tracklistings, cover art or more general info on these uploads check out http://www.discogs.com or do a regular Google search. All uploads are Zip files, download and enjoy ‘em:
Tricky presents Grassroots (1996)
http://www.mediafire.com/?0jjozymgjxd
Royal Flush-Ghetto Millionaire (1997)
http://www.mediafire.com/?7wg0yxtmz2g
Peanut Butter Wolf-My Vinyl Weighs A Ton (1999)
http://www.mediafire.com/?1ydmt2d2mjz
Nuthouse-Deez Nutz EP (2000)
http://www.mediafire.com/?9m1tm2kznww
Masterminds-The Underground Railroad (2000)
http://www.mediafire.com/?2tmttmtxnm1
One.
Monday, February 12, 2007
A Tale Of Three CD’s
I remember reading an On The Go issue way back in the day that had an article about Godfather Don (this same article is available for viewing on Unkut.com). There also was a photo layout in it featuring Godfather Don and several other underground emcees and it mentioned that Godfather Don’s new album on Hydra Records “Diabolique” would be available and it had a release date. The album wasn’t ready on that date, though. It did appear on Sandbox Automatic (back when it was sandbox.pair.com) months later and that’s when I bought it. This Hydra Records release was distributed by Sneak Tip Records as opposed to the regular Fat Beats and executive produced by the heads of Hydra Entertainment, Jerry Famolari and Mike Heron of the Ghetto Pros. The project was recorded at The Basement, Power Play and regular Hydra haunt C Mo Greens Studios.
The weird thing about this album is that it was reviewed in Blaze Magazine right before it dropped and while the words of the review were favorable the ratings for it were low. Of course, the Blaze rating system tended to rate underground albums low that didn’t deserve it (as was the case with The High & Mighty’s “Home Field Advantage” and Aceyalones’ “Book Of Human Language”) so paid it no mind and waited to hear it for myself. This album is fire from beginning to end with production done entirely by Godfather Don. I am still baffted to this day why when people make lists about the best producer/emcees in hip hop history, Godfather Don is rarely mentioned.
As expected the album features Don’s inner circle of friends, namely Sir Menelik/Scaramanga (who appears as both alter egos), Kool Kieth (who guests on “Voices” where they rework the words to the Police song “Voices In My Head” for the hook), Big Lance and Mike L.. My favorites joints on “Diabolique” are “Insane”, “MC Assault”, “Big Katz”, “Diabolique”, “Kaos”, “Life Ain’t The Same”, “Connections”, “Pick Up The Mic”, “Voices”, “Y”, “No Competition”and “Properties Of Steel”. Considering that there are 18 joints on this album that’s a lot (there are even more Godfather Don joints available online through links available in the comment box at the Unkut.com Godfather Don thread, the Godfather Don Hydrabeats series available at Wake Your Daughter Up and his Hydra singles like “Seeds Of Hate” and “Piece Of The Action” that were available at 12 Inchers).
Download this joint now.
Next up is Scaramanga’s “Seven Eyes, Seven Horns”, an album I bought from Newbury Comics in early January 1999. I was surprised to see it in the new releases section because usually those albums had to be bought online (props to the Newbury Comics buyers). Back when I first bought the album, there were only 11 or 12 tracks on it and it was released on Scara’s own Sun Large Communications and distributed by Fat Beats (who also released the “Special Efx/Holdin’ New Cards” 12” from the same album months earlier). The album was released again just over a year later, but this time with one track removed (“Strip Club Bait”, a track with the same beat ended up on a Kut Masta Kurt song a year later) and several new ones added (“S.I.R.”, “Face It”, “Sugar 99 Remix”, “Star Of The Empire (S.O.T.E.)”, and the “Death Letter Remix”).
The album was mostly produced by Scaramanga and Scholarwise (where is he now?) but it also had joints by Godfather Don (“Special Efx”, “Sugar 99 Remix” and “Star Of The Empire”), former Wu affiliate Goldfinghaz (“Holdin’ New Cards” and “Face It”), Diamond D (“S.I.R.”), DJ Spinna (“7XL”), and Showbiz (“Mind I C Mine”). This album is another one of my favorites from the whole underground independent era as it was a consolation prize to the aborted Rawkus Sir Menelik “Cyclops 4000” LP (which was finally released in 2005 as the “Einstein Rosen Bridge”). I added “Strip Club Bait” from the original 1999 release to the 2000 re-release since I have both and it’s one of my favorite tracks of Scaramanga’s. The album packaging also has some Scara pics taken by the legendary lensman Ricky Powell. There is also a Scaramanga interview with even more rare Scaramanga joints available on Unkut.com. Download this album.
Last up is the Screwball album “Y2K”. Queensbridge’s Screwball (KL, Khyron, Hostyle & Poet AKA Blaq Poet) were a staple of Hydra Entertainment and best known for the classic 12” “Cookies N’ Cream/Beat ‘Em In The Head”. After the collapse of Tommy Boy’s Black Label, they went out and absorbed Hydra Entertainment as well as Jerry Famolari and Mike Heron (who also executive produced this album). Screwball got into C Mo Greens Studios and started recording the “Y2K’ project with Mike Heron (Ghetto Pros) doing the brunt of the production. They were also blessed by joints from DJ Premier (“F.A.Y.B.A.N.”and “Seen It All”), Godfather Don (“Y2K” and “Zoning”), Max Vargas (“No Exceptions” and “Biz Interlude”), V.I.C. of Ghetto Pros (“Take It There”), Pete Rock (“You Love To Hear The Stories”), A Kid Called Roots (“The Blocks”), EZ Elpee (“Communications”), the legendary D&D engineer Eddie Sancho (“Attention: A&R Department”) and the legendary Queensbridge producer Marley Marl (“On The Real”).
The album featured guest appearances from Capone N Noreaga, Triple Seis, MC Shan, Godfather Don, Nature, Nashawn, Biz Markie, Rapper Noyd, Prince AD of the Killa Kids, Havoc and Cormega...sounds like a damn Queens reunion. The best thing about Screwball finally getting the chance to put out a proper album was they got the opportunity to make a video for the joint “H-O-S-T-Y-L-E”(look for it online). The lead single “F.A.Y.B.A.N./Who Shot Rudy?” made serious noise when they were released and spiked anticipation for the album back in late 1999/early 2000. My favorite joints are “That Shit”, “F.A.Y.B.A.N.”, “Seen It All”, “Somebody’s Gotta Do It”, “You Love To Hear The Stories”, “The Blocks”, “No Exceptions”, “Urban Warfare”, “Who Shot Rudy?”, “H-O-S-T-Y-L-E”, “Attention: A& R Department” and “On The Real” out of the 20 total tracks on the album. Download this joint and rock to it.
For full tracklistings, cover art or more general info on these uploads check out http://www.discogs.com or do a regular Google search. All uploads are Zip files, download and enjoy ‘em:
Godfather Don-Diabolique (1998)
http://www.mediafire.com/?6yozhzmydgn
Scaramanga-Seven Eyes, Seven Horns (1999/2000)
http://www.mediafire.com/?6jzudunemmu
Screwball-Y2K (2000)
http://www.mediafire.com/?9mbwydfozyo
One.
The weird thing about this album is that it was reviewed in Blaze Magazine right before it dropped and while the words of the review were favorable the ratings for it were low. Of course, the Blaze rating system tended to rate underground albums low that didn’t deserve it (as was the case with The High & Mighty’s “Home Field Advantage” and Aceyalones’ “Book Of Human Language”) so paid it no mind and waited to hear it for myself. This album is fire from beginning to end with production done entirely by Godfather Don. I am still baffted to this day why when people make lists about the best producer/emcees in hip hop history, Godfather Don is rarely mentioned.
As expected the album features Don’s inner circle of friends, namely Sir Menelik/Scaramanga (who appears as both alter egos), Kool Kieth (who guests on “Voices” where they rework the words to the Police song “Voices In My Head” for the hook), Big Lance and Mike L.. My favorites joints on “Diabolique” are “Insane”, “MC Assault”, “Big Katz”, “Diabolique”, “Kaos”, “Life Ain’t The Same”, “Connections”, “Pick Up The Mic”, “Voices”, “Y”, “No Competition”and “Properties Of Steel”. Considering that there are 18 joints on this album that’s a lot (there are even more Godfather Don joints available online through links available in the comment box at the Unkut.com Godfather Don thread, the Godfather Don Hydrabeats series available at Wake Your Daughter Up and his Hydra singles like “Seeds Of Hate” and “Piece Of The Action” that were available at 12 Inchers).
Download this joint now.
Next up is Scaramanga’s “Seven Eyes, Seven Horns”, an album I bought from Newbury Comics in early January 1999. I was surprised to see it in the new releases section because usually those albums had to be bought online (props to the Newbury Comics buyers). Back when I first bought the album, there were only 11 or 12 tracks on it and it was released on Scara’s own Sun Large Communications and distributed by Fat Beats (who also released the “Special Efx/Holdin’ New Cards” 12” from the same album months earlier). The album was released again just over a year later, but this time with one track removed (“Strip Club Bait”, a track with the same beat ended up on a Kut Masta Kurt song a year later) and several new ones added (“S.I.R.”, “Face It”, “Sugar 99 Remix”, “Star Of The Empire (S.O.T.E.)”, and the “Death Letter Remix”).
The album was mostly produced by Scaramanga and Scholarwise (where is he now?) but it also had joints by Godfather Don (“Special Efx”, “Sugar 99 Remix” and “Star Of The Empire”), former Wu affiliate Goldfinghaz (“Holdin’ New Cards” and “Face It”), Diamond D (“S.I.R.”), DJ Spinna (“7XL”), and Showbiz (“Mind I C Mine”). This album is another one of my favorites from the whole underground independent era as it was a consolation prize to the aborted Rawkus Sir Menelik “Cyclops 4000” LP (which was finally released in 2005 as the “Einstein Rosen Bridge”). I added “Strip Club Bait” from the original 1999 release to the 2000 re-release since I have both and it’s one of my favorite tracks of Scaramanga’s. The album packaging also has some Scara pics taken by the legendary lensman Ricky Powell. There is also a Scaramanga interview with even more rare Scaramanga joints available on Unkut.com. Download this album.
Last up is the Screwball album “Y2K”. Queensbridge’s Screwball (KL, Khyron, Hostyle & Poet AKA Blaq Poet) were a staple of Hydra Entertainment and best known for the classic 12” “Cookies N’ Cream/Beat ‘Em In The Head”. After the collapse of Tommy Boy’s Black Label, they went out and absorbed Hydra Entertainment as well as Jerry Famolari and Mike Heron (who also executive produced this album). Screwball got into C Mo Greens Studios and started recording the “Y2K’ project with Mike Heron (Ghetto Pros) doing the brunt of the production. They were also blessed by joints from DJ Premier (“F.A.Y.B.A.N.”and “Seen It All”), Godfather Don (“Y2K” and “Zoning”), Max Vargas (“No Exceptions” and “Biz Interlude”), V.I.C. of Ghetto Pros (“Take It There”), Pete Rock (“You Love To Hear The Stories”), A Kid Called Roots (“The Blocks”), EZ Elpee (“Communications”), the legendary D&D engineer Eddie Sancho (“Attention: A&R Department”) and the legendary Queensbridge producer Marley Marl (“On The Real”).
The album featured guest appearances from Capone N Noreaga, Triple Seis, MC Shan, Godfather Don, Nature, Nashawn, Biz Markie, Rapper Noyd, Prince AD of the Killa Kids, Havoc and Cormega...sounds like a damn Queens reunion. The best thing about Screwball finally getting the chance to put out a proper album was they got the opportunity to make a video for the joint “H-O-S-T-Y-L-E”(look for it online). The lead single “F.A.Y.B.A.N./Who Shot Rudy?” made serious noise when they were released and spiked anticipation for the album back in late 1999/early 2000. My favorite joints are “That Shit”, “F.A.Y.B.A.N.”, “Seen It All”, “Somebody’s Gotta Do It”, “You Love To Hear The Stories”, “The Blocks”, “No Exceptions”, “Urban Warfare”, “Who Shot Rudy?”, “H-O-S-T-Y-L-E”, “Attention: A& R Department” and “On The Real” out of the 20 total tracks on the album. Download this joint and rock to it.
For full tracklistings, cover art or more general info on these uploads check out http://www.discogs.com or do a regular Google search. All uploads are Zip files, download and enjoy ‘em:
Godfather Don-Diabolique (1998)
http://www.mediafire.com/?6yozhzmydgn
Scaramanga-Seven Eyes, Seven Horns (1999/2000)
http://www.mediafire.com/?6jzudunemmu
Screwball-Y2K (2000)
http://www.mediafire.com/?9mbwydfozyo
One.
Friday, February 9, 2007
Rest In Eternal Peace, J Dilla
My fellow blogger and Bostonian Boomer has made an excellent post dedicated to one of the greatest beatmakers in the entire history of hip hop music, James Yancey AKA J Dilla. This man was resposible for crafting some of the illest joints ever. His drums were crazy and he was a big influence on my teams production style (Hellsenda Productions). I can't believe he's been gone from us in the physical for a year now...I remember seeing the pictures of him performing in his wheelchair overseas on that blog and it hurts me looking at those pictures even to this day.
As for Boomer's extensive Dilla post, I couldn't have done it better myself (No really...he has some shit Dilla made that I never even heard of...and I have Donuts, The Shining, Ruff Draft, Jaylib, Jay Loves Japan, and Welcome To Detroit and about 60 Dilla instrumentals all on my hard drive on my Mac G5). Please make it a point to check Boomers post out on his blog here:
http://mfboomer.blogspot.com/
Rest In Eternal Peace, Dilla. Your music lives on through your fans. One.
As for Boomer's extensive Dilla post, I couldn't have done it better myself (No really...he has some shit Dilla made that I never even heard of...and I have Donuts, The Shining, Ruff Draft, Jaylib, Jay Loves Japan, and Welcome To Detroit and about 60 Dilla instrumentals all on my hard drive on my Mac G5). Please make it a point to check Boomers post out on his blog here:
http://mfboomer.blogspot.com/
Rest In Eternal Peace, Dilla. Your music lives on through your fans. One.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Only The Illest Documentaries AKA Dartflix Edition #6
I have seen a hell of a lot of documentaries in my lifetime and I love the fact I have the opportunity to share my knowldge via this blog. A bad documentary is exponentially worse than a bad traditional film in my opinion. No camera tricks, trick lighting , quick cuts, stunts or nudity can make your doc more appealing to audiences. You either can tell a story or disseminate information well or you can’t, bottom line. Here goes.
Dart’s Three Trailers Of The Week (2/4/07- 2/10/07):
Spiderman 3
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0413300/trailers
Zodiac
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443706/trailers
Pride
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475355/trailers
Documentaries available for rent through Netflix:
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls
The Weather Underground
Big Brother and the Holding Company With Janis Joplin: Nine Hundred Nights
Jimi Hendrix
Lost In La Mancha
An Inconviencient Truth
Four Little Girls
Overnight
S21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine
The Complete Monterey Pop Festival
El Che: Investigating A Legend
The Kid Stays In The Picture
Bob Marley & The Wailers: Catch A Fire
When We Were Kings
Yo Soy Boricua, Pa’Que Tu Lo Sepas!
Bowling For Columbine
A Great Day In Harlem: The Spitball Story
Punk:Attitude
Scottsboro: An American Tragedy
Only The Strong Survive
This Film Is Not Yet Rated
BaadAssss Cinema
The Life & Times Of Frida Kahlo
The History Of Rock & Roll
Incident At Oglala
Mumia Abu Jamal: Reasonable Doubt?
The Murder Of Emmit Till
Wattstax
Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong
The History Of Organized Crime
Modern Warriors: The Martial Way
Street Fight
Woodstock: 3 Days Of Peace & Music
Devil’s Playground
Amandla: Revolution In Four Part Harmony
Who Killed The Electric Car
Dig!
Fela: Music Is The Weapon
Super Size Me
Dogtown & Z-Boys
Buena Vista Social Club
Crumb
Nuyorican Dream
The Tuskegee Airmen: They Fought Two Wars
Favela Rising
Falasha: Exile Of The Black Jews
Unforgivable Blackness
Half Past Autumn
Dropped
Ghosts Of Rwanda: Frontline
The Ground Truth
Cinemania
Live Forever
Rhyme & Reason
The Show
Jay-Z: Fade To Black
Backstage
Style Wars
Dart’s Picks:
The Weather Underground
Half Past Autumn
Wattstax
Overnight
This Film Is Not Yet Rated
Dart’s WTF? Awards/Watch This Bullshit At Your Own Risk:
Ronald Reagan: The Great Communicator- They took 2 discs to tell the viewer what a great man Ronald Reagan was...being a child that grew up in the drug ravaged government funding deficient inner city during the Reagan Bush Administration I’d have to beg to differ with this documentary.
Porn Star: The Legend Of Ron Jeremy- What the hell was I thinking renting this? Who would ever believe a documentary about a man that has bedded hundreds of women could be so damn boring?
Any Religious Right Wing leaning documentary that praises Conversative interests- I aint the one. No thank you.
One.
Dart’s Three Trailers Of The Week (2/4/07- 2/10/07):
Spiderman 3
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0413300/trailers
Zodiac
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443706/trailers
Pride
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475355/trailers
Documentaries available for rent through Netflix:
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls
The Weather Underground
Big Brother and the Holding Company With Janis Joplin: Nine Hundred Nights
Jimi Hendrix
Lost In La Mancha
An Inconviencient Truth
Four Little Girls
Overnight
S21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine
The Complete Monterey Pop Festival
El Che: Investigating A Legend
The Kid Stays In The Picture
Bob Marley & The Wailers: Catch A Fire
When We Were Kings
Yo Soy Boricua, Pa’Que Tu Lo Sepas!
Bowling For Columbine
A Great Day In Harlem: The Spitball Story
Punk:Attitude
Scottsboro: An American Tragedy
Only The Strong Survive
This Film Is Not Yet Rated
BaadAssss Cinema
The Life & Times Of Frida Kahlo
The History Of Rock & Roll
Incident At Oglala
Mumia Abu Jamal: Reasonable Doubt?
The Murder Of Emmit Till
Wattstax
Chop Socky: Cinema Hong Kong
The History Of Organized Crime
Modern Warriors: The Martial Way
Street Fight
Woodstock: 3 Days Of Peace & Music
Devil’s Playground
Amandla: Revolution In Four Part Harmony
Who Killed The Electric Car
Dig!
Fela: Music Is The Weapon
Super Size Me
Dogtown & Z-Boys
Buena Vista Social Club
Crumb
Nuyorican Dream
The Tuskegee Airmen: They Fought Two Wars
Favela Rising
Falasha: Exile Of The Black Jews
Unforgivable Blackness
Half Past Autumn
Dropped
Ghosts Of Rwanda: Frontline
The Ground Truth
Cinemania
Live Forever
Rhyme & Reason
The Show
Jay-Z: Fade To Black
Backstage
Style Wars
Dart’s Picks:
The Weather Underground
Half Past Autumn
Wattstax
Overnight
This Film Is Not Yet Rated
Dart’s WTF? Awards/Watch This Bullshit At Your Own Risk:
Ronald Reagan: The Great Communicator- They took 2 discs to tell the viewer what a great man Ronald Reagan was...being a child that grew up in the drug ravaged government funding deficient inner city during the Reagan Bush Administration I’d have to beg to differ with this documentary.
Porn Star: The Legend Of Ron Jeremy- What the hell was I thinking renting this? Who would ever believe a documentary about a man that has bedded hundreds of women could be so damn boring?
Any Religious Right Wing leaning documentary that praises Conversative interests- I aint the one. No thank you.
One.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Three Random Unrelated Uploads That I Forgot About
I’m back from my side mission to start an internet revolution and I’m back to focusing on what I do best, writing about hip hop...or hip hop related stuff. My post today consists exclusively of releases I uploaded for other potential posts that I changed at the last moment (usually due to having to redo my posts because some other blogs have uploaded the albums I was about to do) and I had to go another direction. These three CD’s ended up being DJ Shadow’s side project, Unkle’s Psyence Fiction, underground supergroup Missin’ Linx’s EP Exhibit A plus a bunch of their featured tracks from other releases and finally, a mix CD compiled by Bobbito Garcia for indie label R2, Bobbito Earthtones.
The Unkle project was relased in 1998 on Mo’Wax/London Records and the group Unkle contained DJ Shadow and James Lavelle. If you look at the liner notes for this album you soon realize that all James Lavelle contributed to the actual production of the music contained on the album was breathe into the mic on an interlude...I kid you not. He doesn’t show up in the writing, publishing or production credits at all. His contribution to the project had to be more on the executive side since DJ Shadow is paired with several members of the alternarock community such as Alice Temple, Badly Drawn Boy and Thom Yorke.
DJ Shadow also creates the two part audio soundscape called “Drums Of Death” with the first part going to Kool G Rap (who spits the same verse he did on the B-1 single he appeared on for Rawkus earlier that year...it’s still fire) and the second going to Mike D of the Beastie Boys. The other songs on the 11 track album are instrumental pieces produced by DJ Shadow.The most well known song on this album is probably “Rabbit In Your Headlights” featuring Thom Yorke because of the groundbreaking video which became a favorite on MTV’s electronica based show Amp and their old college radio/alternative music mix show 120 Minutes. It’s at least an interesting listen (even if you’re not into this sort of thing).
Missin’ Linx first jumped on the hip hop scene back in 1997. Black Attack was then known as Sean Black of Sadat X’s Wild Cowboys crew. Al’ Tariq Say Fudeen (The Shining Sword Of Allah) was once known as Kool Ass Fashion, the third of the trio The Beatnuts and Brooklyn’s own Problemz was busy handing out ‘nuff (k)nots like Ripley so you better believe it. Sean Black appeared on Sadat X’s Wild Cowboy project as well as DJ Honda’s first album (which I was gonna post last week but I got beat to it) along with Al’ Tariq and Problemz. He changed his name to Black Attack and released a couple of indie singles, most notably “Verbal Attack”, “My Crown” and “Correct Techniques” featuring Problemz. Problemz appeared solo on tracks from DJ Honda’s compilations as well as “Society” from the Rawkus double cd compilation “The Lyrcist Lounge”.
The group appeared as part of Al’ Tariq’s God Connection click on “No Question”, “Spectacular” and “No Question” from his Correct Records release “God Connections”(which I’ll upload on Friday) and on DJ Spinna’s Heavy Beats Vol. 1 on “Who U Be”. They released an EP for Dante Ross’ Stimulated label on Loud Records called “Exhibit A”. I uploaded it and included some of the group tracks that they recorded for other projects (the only track I couldn’t find was the Necro produced “Lock’d D” from the Linx Ink/Fat Beats “M.I.A./Lock’d D” 12”, if you have it then please up it).
The final upload I made was the compilation called “Bobbito Earthtones”. It’s described as a compilation of music from the Latin diaspora and features several Brazilian samba, some Afro Cuban jazz, Sebastian Williams’ “Get Your Point Over” (2 perfect minutes of soul music), a reworking of “Trans Europe Express” and oddly enough Self Scientific’s classic joint “The Return” (presumably because of the sample that DJ Khalil flipped for the beat). If you’re into classic jazz, soul and some instrumental funk then download it now.
For full tracklistings, cover art or more general info on these uploads check out http://www.discogs.com or do a regular Google search. All uploads are Zip files, download and enjoy ‘em:
Unkle-Psyence Fiction (1998)
http://www.mediafire.com/?7ndzxterzzd
Missin’ Linx-Exhibit A (2000) + Extras
http://www.sendspace.com/file/hpij2q
Bobbito Earthtones (2003)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/q34ehn
One.
The Unkle project was relased in 1998 on Mo’Wax/London Records and the group Unkle contained DJ Shadow and James Lavelle. If you look at the liner notes for this album you soon realize that all James Lavelle contributed to the actual production of the music contained on the album was breathe into the mic on an interlude...I kid you not. He doesn’t show up in the writing, publishing or production credits at all. His contribution to the project had to be more on the executive side since DJ Shadow is paired with several members of the alternarock community such as Alice Temple, Badly Drawn Boy and Thom Yorke.
DJ Shadow also creates the two part audio soundscape called “Drums Of Death” with the first part going to Kool G Rap (who spits the same verse he did on the B-1 single he appeared on for Rawkus earlier that year...it’s still fire) and the second going to Mike D of the Beastie Boys. The other songs on the 11 track album are instrumental pieces produced by DJ Shadow.The most well known song on this album is probably “Rabbit In Your Headlights” featuring Thom Yorke because of the groundbreaking video which became a favorite on MTV’s electronica based show Amp and their old college radio/alternative music mix show 120 Minutes. It’s at least an interesting listen (even if you’re not into this sort of thing).
Missin’ Linx first jumped on the hip hop scene back in 1997. Black Attack was then known as Sean Black of Sadat X’s Wild Cowboys crew. Al’ Tariq Say Fudeen (The Shining Sword Of Allah) was once known as Kool Ass Fashion, the third of the trio The Beatnuts and Brooklyn’s own Problemz was busy handing out ‘nuff (k)nots like Ripley so you better believe it. Sean Black appeared on Sadat X’s Wild Cowboy project as well as DJ Honda’s first album (which I was gonna post last week but I got beat to it) along with Al’ Tariq and Problemz. He changed his name to Black Attack and released a couple of indie singles, most notably “Verbal Attack”, “My Crown” and “Correct Techniques” featuring Problemz. Problemz appeared solo on tracks from DJ Honda’s compilations as well as “Society” from the Rawkus double cd compilation “The Lyrcist Lounge”.
The group appeared as part of Al’ Tariq’s God Connection click on “No Question”, “Spectacular” and “No Question” from his Correct Records release “God Connections”(which I’ll upload on Friday) and on DJ Spinna’s Heavy Beats Vol. 1 on “Who U Be”. They released an EP for Dante Ross’ Stimulated label on Loud Records called “Exhibit A”. I uploaded it and included some of the group tracks that they recorded for other projects (the only track I couldn’t find was the Necro produced “Lock’d D” from the Linx Ink/Fat Beats “M.I.A./Lock’d D” 12”, if you have it then please up it).
The final upload I made was the compilation called “Bobbito Earthtones”. It’s described as a compilation of music from the Latin diaspora and features several Brazilian samba, some Afro Cuban jazz, Sebastian Williams’ “Get Your Point Over” (2 perfect minutes of soul music), a reworking of “Trans Europe Express” and oddly enough Self Scientific’s classic joint “The Return” (presumably because of the sample that DJ Khalil flipped for the beat). If you’re into classic jazz, soul and some instrumental funk then download it now.
For full tracklistings, cover art or more general info on these uploads check out http://www.discogs.com or do a regular Google search. All uploads are Zip files, download and enjoy ‘em:
Unkle-Psyence Fiction (1998)
http://www.mediafire.com/?7ndzxterzzd
Missin’ Linx-Exhibit A (2000) + Extras
http://www.sendspace.com/file/hpij2q
Bobbito Earthtones (2003)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/q34ehn
One.
Monday, February 5, 2007
The Justus League Is What You Need!
One of the best hip hop collectives to appear on the scene in the past decade is easily the North Carolina based squad, The Justus League. Established in 1999 and managed by Big Dho, the Justus League has of a wide array of emcees, vocalists and producers amongst it’s ranks including Little Brother (Phonte & Rapper Big Dho), The Away Team (Sean Boog & Joe Scudda), L.E.G.A.C.Y., Chaundon, Median, 0-Dash, Kaze, Edgar Allan Floe, Skyzoo, Darien Brockington, Yahzarah, DJ Flash, 9th Wonder, Khrysis, Illmind, Oddisee, and Nicolay. There are so many of these cats that I’m sure I missed some. I uploaded three of the harder to find and out of print compilations/mixtapes that the Hall Of Justus Music Group have released over the past few years. I offer for your downloading and listening pleasure, 9th Wonder’s compilation The Dream Merchant, The Single Files mixed by DJ Flash and Triple Play featuring The Away Team, L.E.G.A.C.Y. and Rapper Big Pooh of Little Brother.
The funny thing is that people always call Little Brother and The Justus League “conscious”, “underground” or “East Coast sounding”...they just make hip hop music. Period. Dope deats, ill flows, tight concepts, lyricsm...it’s all there. I can’t even begin to list my favorite songs off of these three releases because I’d get carpal tunnel syndrome. Beats are provided by 9th Wonder, Khrysis and Big Dho on these joints. If you like these then look for more Justus League releases and joints dropped by their extended fam such as Nicolay’s entire catalog (especially Foreign Exchange’s “Connected”), Rapper Big Pooh’s “Sleepers”, Kaze’s “Spirit Of ‘94”, Skyzoo’s “Cloud 9”, Little Brother’s “Chitlin Circuit 1.5” or their DJ Drama Gangsta Grillz mixtape “Separate But Equal” to start. I could’ve added several more projects to this list as well but there are so many, they slipped my mind. If you’re already a fan of/familiar with The Justus League this is old news to you, but if not download these and rock to them.
All uploads are Sendspace Zip files, download and enjoy ‘em:
9th Wonder presents The Dream Merchant Vol. 1 (2004)
http://www.mediafire.com/?6ejyuezeztn
The Justus League presents The Singles Files (Mixed by DJ Flash) (2005)
http://www.mediafire.com/?6ivjdmglgwm
The Justus League presents Triple Play (2005)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/ktvbxe
One.
The funny thing is that people always call Little Brother and The Justus League “conscious”, “underground” or “East Coast sounding”...they just make hip hop music. Period. Dope deats, ill flows, tight concepts, lyricsm...it’s all there. I can’t even begin to list my favorite songs off of these three releases because I’d get carpal tunnel syndrome. Beats are provided by 9th Wonder, Khrysis and Big Dho on these joints. If you like these then look for more Justus League releases and joints dropped by their extended fam such as Nicolay’s entire catalog (especially Foreign Exchange’s “Connected”), Rapper Big Pooh’s “Sleepers”, Kaze’s “Spirit Of ‘94”, Skyzoo’s “Cloud 9”, Little Brother’s “Chitlin Circuit 1.5” or their DJ Drama Gangsta Grillz mixtape “Separate But Equal” to start. I could’ve added several more projects to this list as well but there are so many, they slipped my mind. If you’re already a fan of/familiar with The Justus League this is old news to you, but if not download these and rock to them.
All uploads are Sendspace Zip files, download and enjoy ‘em:
9th Wonder presents The Dream Merchant Vol. 1 (2004)
http://www.mediafire.com/?6ejyuezeztn
The Justus League presents The Singles Files (Mixed by DJ Flash) (2005)
http://www.mediafire.com/?6ivjdmglgwm
The Justus League presents Triple Play (2005)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/ktvbxe
One.
The Jig Is Up AKA Kill That Noise
Considering that this is Black History Month it only makes sense that I pick this time to post about the following subject. The word “jig” should no longer be used by any blogger or writer from here on out. This practice is ignorant and beyond stupid.
By making this statement I’m not trying to be a moral leader of any kind in this matter, I’m simply using common sense. The term “jig” is a derogatory term that was previously used exclusively by racist assholes for the specific purpose to demean and degrade in reference to Black people. The term “jig” does not have a history of ever being used as a term of endearment by Blacks or any other people of color. So why then do bloggers such as the ones at DallasPenn.com and Byron “Bol” Crawford use this term so freely in reference to their own people with the same intention and in similar context? Why is it always used in a pejorative sense as if to distance themselves from the person/people that they’re using it on in the same manner that the racist assholes who used it on us in the past did (as if they’re on the outside looking in and they aren’t Black themselves)? When you call your own people “jigs”, you might as well open the floodgates and call them “junglebunnies”, “spooks”, “spades”, “moulies”, “spearchuckers” and “porch monkeys” as well. What’s the damn difference?
When the word “nigga” is often used by Blacks or Latinos in reference to other Blacks of Latinos, the word itself cannot stand alone...it needs a qualifier and a particular context in order to make sense to the reader/listener/audience (Whether it be “That’s my nigga”, “That nigga’s stupid”, “That nigga is a genius” or “he’s a bitch ass nigga”). That’s not the case with the usage of the term “jig” in relation to another Black person, it can only be used in a negative manner and it needs no qualifier whatsoever...No one ever writes shit like “That jig acted his ass off in The Last King Of Scotland!” The purpose of the term’s usage is to separate the writer/user from the subject or their actions, much the way modifiers like “ignorant bastard”, “dumbass” or “stupid muthafucka” do. Difference is that ANYONE can be a stupid muthafucka...does anyone who uses this term refer to any non-Black person as a “jig”? Do they use it but consider THEMSELVES “jigs” but just smarter ones than the “jigs” they criticize (like I do if was to refer to a Black person who calls his own people “jig” as an “ignorant ass nigga”)?
Who in the hell ever thought it was cool to use a term that racist or ignorant people used on Black people exclusively to describe their OWN people? Whenever I see that word used in print in blogs either on DallasPenn.com or XXL I can’t believe that a Black person intentionally used it. I personally can’t call someone else a “jig” ever...Why? Because I’m a Black man and I have common sense. Whenever I personally used the word “nigga” I was automatically implying by my usage that I was a “nigga” MYSELF. This is because “nigga” is also a term of endearment depending on it’s particular usage or context. If I ever meant it or used it in a negative way, I’d have to add a qualifier to it because the usage of the term by itself (unlike “nigger”..ask Michael Richards or Paris Hilton) has no intent of malice behind it (at least not when I use it, which is less and less as I get older). My mother grew up in Alabama in the 40’s and moved to Boston in the 60’s and had that word used on her in a hateful manner for years...How in the hell do I justify being a grown man who knows right from wrong and using it against my own people in that same exact context TODAY?
The usage of this term (whether it be in print or vocalized) is nothing more to me than playing into the self hate that we have been conditioned to perpetuate since we were first bound in shackles and then “seasoned” and “conditioned” during the Middle Passage before being brought to America. We were not encouraged to have any kind of solidarity or stability whatsoever (even families were separated from each other). We were often played against each other (The Willie Lynch Theory) and told that we were only worth 3/5 of a “regular” human being ( The Constitution Of The United States Of America). We weren’t allowed to read, write, make music or congregate in large groups unless it was church (The Slave Codes). We were encouraged to hate ourselves and each other...even to dread the color of our own skins or the coarseness of our own hair. That’s what the usage of the word “jig” represents to me, going back to that very same slavery mindset that have kept us from progressing even 143 years after being “freed”. Fuck that. I’m all about progression. I’m all about evolution. I’m about the next level. Calling my own people a word that racist, ass backwards people used as they kept us from receiving the goods, services, or basic human respect that we deserved as sentient beings is DEAD.
I cannot change anyone’s mind on this issue no matter what I write and I’m fully aware of it. Any of the bloggers from DallasPenn.com, Bryon “Bol” Crawford or anyone else that freely uses this term in print or otherwise are all grown men/women that have to look themselves in the mirror daily and account for their own individual ways and actions. If they have no problem with using it, then that’s on them, I won’t comment on it any further or press them on it. They just need to know that they are wrong for doing so. It’s even dumber than a Black person using the term “wigger” (which is beyond stupid...think about it).
I personally (I can only speak for myself) can’t imagine calling another Black person a “porchmonkey”, “pickinniny” or a “tar baby”, even in jest (but if you’re cooning and making us all look bad, you best believe I’ll call it like I see it). That’s why Uncle Ruckus on The Boondocks is so damn funny. Aaron McGruder uses that character to illustrate to us just how ridiculous Black peoples own self hatred is. When muthafuckas are actually using old racists term in reference to each other that we never embraced that’s when I have to draw the line. I’m done on the subject. Like my boy NYOil said in his song “Malcolm X and Martin Luther King didn’t die for us to act like this”.
One.
By making this statement I’m not trying to be a moral leader of any kind in this matter, I’m simply using common sense. The term “jig” is a derogatory term that was previously used exclusively by racist assholes for the specific purpose to demean and degrade in reference to Black people. The term “jig” does not have a history of ever being used as a term of endearment by Blacks or any other people of color. So why then do bloggers such as the ones at DallasPenn.com and Byron “Bol” Crawford use this term so freely in reference to their own people with the same intention and in similar context? Why is it always used in a pejorative sense as if to distance themselves from the person/people that they’re using it on in the same manner that the racist assholes who used it on us in the past did (as if they’re on the outside looking in and they aren’t Black themselves)? When you call your own people “jigs”, you might as well open the floodgates and call them “junglebunnies”, “spooks”, “spades”, “moulies”, “spearchuckers” and “porch monkeys” as well. What’s the damn difference?
When the word “nigga” is often used by Blacks or Latinos in reference to other Blacks of Latinos, the word itself cannot stand alone...it needs a qualifier and a particular context in order to make sense to the reader/listener/audience (Whether it be “That’s my nigga”, “That nigga’s stupid”, “That nigga is a genius” or “he’s a bitch ass nigga”). That’s not the case with the usage of the term “jig” in relation to another Black person, it can only be used in a negative manner and it needs no qualifier whatsoever...No one ever writes shit like “That jig acted his ass off in The Last King Of Scotland!” The purpose of the term’s usage is to separate the writer/user from the subject or their actions, much the way modifiers like “ignorant bastard”, “dumbass” or “stupid muthafucka” do. Difference is that ANYONE can be a stupid muthafucka...does anyone who uses this term refer to any non-Black person as a “jig”? Do they use it but consider THEMSELVES “jigs” but just smarter ones than the “jigs” they criticize (like I do if was to refer to a Black person who calls his own people “jig” as an “ignorant ass nigga”)?
Who in the hell ever thought it was cool to use a term that racist or ignorant people used on Black people exclusively to describe their OWN people? Whenever I see that word used in print in blogs either on DallasPenn.com or XXL I can’t believe that a Black person intentionally used it. I personally can’t call someone else a “jig” ever...Why? Because I’m a Black man and I have common sense. Whenever I personally used the word “nigga” I was automatically implying by my usage that I was a “nigga” MYSELF. This is because “nigga” is also a term of endearment depending on it’s particular usage or context. If I ever meant it or used it in a negative way, I’d have to add a qualifier to it because the usage of the term by itself (unlike “nigger”..ask Michael Richards or Paris Hilton) has no intent of malice behind it (at least not when I use it, which is less and less as I get older). My mother grew up in Alabama in the 40’s and moved to Boston in the 60’s and had that word used on her in a hateful manner for years...How in the hell do I justify being a grown man who knows right from wrong and using it against my own people in that same exact context TODAY?
The usage of this term (whether it be in print or vocalized) is nothing more to me than playing into the self hate that we have been conditioned to perpetuate since we were first bound in shackles and then “seasoned” and “conditioned” during the Middle Passage before being brought to America. We were not encouraged to have any kind of solidarity or stability whatsoever (even families were separated from each other). We were often played against each other (The Willie Lynch Theory) and told that we were only worth 3/5 of a “regular” human being ( The Constitution Of The United States Of America). We weren’t allowed to read, write, make music or congregate in large groups unless it was church (The Slave Codes). We were encouraged to hate ourselves and each other...even to dread the color of our own skins or the coarseness of our own hair. That’s what the usage of the word “jig” represents to me, going back to that very same slavery mindset that have kept us from progressing even 143 years after being “freed”. Fuck that. I’m all about progression. I’m all about evolution. I’m about the next level. Calling my own people a word that racist, ass backwards people used as they kept us from receiving the goods, services, or basic human respect that we deserved as sentient beings is DEAD.
I cannot change anyone’s mind on this issue no matter what I write and I’m fully aware of it. Any of the bloggers from DallasPenn.com, Bryon “Bol” Crawford or anyone else that freely uses this term in print or otherwise are all grown men/women that have to look themselves in the mirror daily and account for their own individual ways and actions. If they have no problem with using it, then that’s on them, I won’t comment on it any further or press them on it. They just need to know that they are wrong for doing so. It’s even dumber than a Black person using the term “wigger” (which is beyond stupid...think about it).
I personally (I can only speak for myself) can’t imagine calling another Black person a “porchmonkey”, “pickinniny” or a “tar baby”, even in jest (but if you’re cooning and making us all look bad, you best believe I’ll call it like I see it). That’s why Uncle Ruckus on The Boondocks is so damn funny. Aaron McGruder uses that character to illustrate to us just how ridiculous Black peoples own self hatred is. When muthafuckas are actually using old racists term in reference to each other that we never embraced that’s when I have to draw the line. I’m done on the subject. Like my boy NYOil said in his song “Malcolm X and Martin Luther King didn’t die for us to act like this”.
One.
Friday, February 2, 2007
3 Slept On R&B Albums
Today I decided to upload three of my favorite R&B joints from past years, Ambersunshower’s Walter T. Smith, Esthero’s Breath From Another and Res’ How I Do.
First off, Ambersunshower first appeared on the scene as half of Groove Garden along with DJ/producer DJ Atsushi. They were signed to Flavor Unit Records and they appeared on the Rollin’ With The Flavor compilation on Tommy Boy Records, of course the deal went south and about a year later, Groove Garden broke up and Ambersunshower went solo. She ended up getting a deal and releasing her lone album Walter T. Smith after her father. This album is heavily slept on but probaly best known for the singles “Walter T.” and “Running Song” whose videos were both played on BET’s “Video Vibrations” show quite often. The 11 tracks on this album are well produced (the only name producer on it is Minnesota who made “Serengeti Plains”) and it keeps your interest throughout the entire joint. Download it now.
Esthero’s 1st album was one I bought when it first came out because the video for the first single off of it (“Heaven Sent”) got heavy burn on MuchMusic, the Canadian music channel (it was replaced by Fuse...who sucks balls by comparison). The album exceeded my expectations and I’ve been playing it ever since. My favorite tracks are “Heaven Sent”, “Anywayz”, “That Girl”, “Lounge” & “Superheroes”. Produced entirely by Doc for 6th Sphere Productions, it keeps getting the tag of being Trip Hop but I personally don’t agree with it. If you haven’t heard it yet, download it and do so now.
Res’ How I Do is easily one of the best R&B albums of the 00’s (what else do you call ‘em). Produced mostly by Khaliyl of World Series Music (formerly Mr. Man of Bush Babees) and written entirely by Santi White, Res’ album was a masterpiece from beginning to end. Her videos for “Golden Boys” and “They Say Vision” were embraced by BET’s Next show (which no longer exists) and “They Say Vision” ended up gaining MTV rotation. Res’ song “Let Love” also ended up being used in an advertising campaign for a car company. Even with all of this attention, an album selling for 7.99 in Best Buy and Wal Mart and Corey Smyth of BlackSmith Management directing her career, the album underperformed saleswise but is loved by critics and fans alike. My personal favorite joints are “Golden Boys”, “They Say Vision”, “Ice King” (does anyone have the remix with Nas on it?), “700 Mile Situation”, “I Know The Garden” and “Tsunami”. You already know what to do, people.
I also could’ve gone the way of Adriana Evans, Amel Larrieux, or Laurnea...but I couldn’t get to those crates without having to clean out my closet. I didn’t feel up to folding up 3 year old Triple 5 Soul, out of print Mecca shirts and Patriots championship T shirts from years past. Screw all that.
For full tracklistings, cover art or more general info on these uploads check out http://www.discogs.com or do a regular Google search. All uploads are Zip files, download and enjoy ‘em:
Ambersunshower-Walter T. Smith (1996)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/bubqmd
Esthero-Breath From Another (1998)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/brq4mi
Res-How I Do (2001)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/kn12vv
One.
First off, Ambersunshower first appeared on the scene as half of Groove Garden along with DJ/producer DJ Atsushi. They were signed to Flavor Unit Records and they appeared on the Rollin’ With The Flavor compilation on Tommy Boy Records, of course the deal went south and about a year later, Groove Garden broke up and Ambersunshower went solo. She ended up getting a deal and releasing her lone album Walter T. Smith after her father. This album is heavily slept on but probaly best known for the singles “Walter T.” and “Running Song” whose videos were both played on BET’s “Video Vibrations” show quite often. The 11 tracks on this album are well produced (the only name producer on it is Minnesota who made “Serengeti Plains”) and it keeps your interest throughout the entire joint. Download it now.
Esthero’s 1st album was one I bought when it first came out because the video for the first single off of it (“Heaven Sent”) got heavy burn on MuchMusic, the Canadian music channel (it was replaced by Fuse...who sucks balls by comparison). The album exceeded my expectations and I’ve been playing it ever since. My favorite tracks are “Heaven Sent”, “Anywayz”, “That Girl”, “Lounge” & “Superheroes”. Produced entirely by Doc for 6th Sphere Productions, it keeps getting the tag of being Trip Hop but I personally don’t agree with it. If you haven’t heard it yet, download it and do so now.
Res’ How I Do is easily one of the best R&B albums of the 00’s (what else do you call ‘em). Produced mostly by Khaliyl of World Series Music (formerly Mr. Man of Bush Babees) and written entirely by Santi White, Res’ album was a masterpiece from beginning to end. Her videos for “Golden Boys” and “They Say Vision” were embraced by BET’s Next show (which no longer exists) and “They Say Vision” ended up gaining MTV rotation. Res’ song “Let Love” also ended up being used in an advertising campaign for a car company. Even with all of this attention, an album selling for 7.99 in Best Buy and Wal Mart and Corey Smyth of BlackSmith Management directing her career, the album underperformed saleswise but is loved by critics and fans alike. My personal favorite joints are “Golden Boys”, “They Say Vision”, “Ice King” (does anyone have the remix with Nas on it?), “700 Mile Situation”, “I Know The Garden” and “Tsunami”. You already know what to do, people.
I also could’ve gone the way of Adriana Evans, Amel Larrieux, or Laurnea...but I couldn’t get to those crates without having to clean out my closet. I didn’t feel up to folding up 3 year old Triple 5 Soul, out of print Mecca shirts and Patriots championship T shirts from years past. Screw all that.
For full tracklistings, cover art or more general info on these uploads check out http://www.discogs.com or do a regular Google search. All uploads are Zip files, download and enjoy ‘em:
Ambersunshower-Walter T. Smith (1996)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/bubqmd
Esthero-Breath From Another (1998)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/brq4mi
Res-How I Do (2001)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/kn12vv
One.
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Only The Illest Comedies AKA Dartflix Edition #5
The trick with this particular post is for me to post some comedies/or comedy series’ that everyone isn’t up on. It’s too easy to list flicks like Anchorman, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Nacho Libre and The Ballad Of Rick Bobby. I have to dig deep and find things that people may or may not be up on, this doesn’t mean that I don’t appreciate standups like Katt Williams or Dane Cook...it just means that I’d like to push some cats that people may or may not be aware of like Patrice O’ Neal, Deray Davis, Wendy Liebman or The Flight Of The Conchords. I also had to go into the wayback machine to find some older comedy series’ that people may have forgotten about. This edition was the toughest one to do so far because I pretty much had to get rid of all of the well known stuff. Here it goes.
Dart’s Three Trailers Of The Week (1/29/07- 2/3/07):
The Kingdom
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0431197/trailers
Black Snake Moan
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0462200/trailers
I Think I Love My Wife
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0770772/trailers
Comedies/comedy series’ available for rent through Netflix:
The Aristocrats
Waiting...
Wet Hot American Summer
The Comedians Of Comedy: Live At The El Rey
The Comedians Of Comedy: The Movie
Arrested Development (series)
The Chris Rock Show (series)
Mr. Show (series)
The Ben Stiller Show (series)
Tenacious D (series)
The Richard Pryor Show (series)
An Evening With Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith 2: Evening Harder
Eddie Griffin: Voodoo Child
DysFunktional Family (Eddie Griffin)
Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic
Bill Maher: Victory Begins At Home
Bill Maher: New Rules
George Carlin: You Are All Diseased
George Carlin: Complaints And Greivances
David Cross: Let America Laugh
George Lopez: Why Are You Crying?
Carlos Mencia: Not For The Easily Offended
Denis Leary: The Complete Denis Leary
Steve Harvey: One Man
The Original Kings Of Comedy
The Original Latin Kings Of Comedy
Damon Wayans: The Last Stand
Damon Wayans: Still Standing
Alex Thomas: Straight Clownin’
Dave Attell’s Insomniac Tour Uncensored
One Night Stand: Louis CK
Platinum Comedy Series: Adele Givens
Patinum Comedy Series: Sheryl Underwood
Ellen Degeneris: Here And Now
Robin Williams: Live On Broadway
Jim Gaffigan: Beyond The Pale
Zach Gallifanakis Live
Patton Oswalt: No Reason To Complain: Uncensored
Paul Rodriguez: Live At San Quentin
Billy Connolly: Live In New York
Billy Connolly Live: The Greatest Hits
Paul Mooney: Analyzing White America
Latham Entertainment presents: An All New Comedy Experience
Jamie Foxx: I Might Need Security
Jamie Foxx: Live From The Foxxhole
Queens Of Comedy
Dart’s Picks:
The Richard Pryor Show (series)
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia: Season 1 (series)
Weeds (Seasons 1& 2) (series)
Comedians Of Comedy: The Movie
Rent these and laugh your ass off^. Nuff said.
Dart’s WTF? Awards/Watch This Bullshit At Your Own Risk:
Mike Epps: Innapropiate Behaviour- Mike Epps is funny in movies. When he has to come up with his own routines...he can flounder. It’s like he’s freestyling it all on stage, the difference being that on a movie set, he’s quick and improvise a whole comedic scene. On stage, it’s painful to watch. He uses a lot of contrived material and he isn’t original enough to pull it off. He pretty much rehashes all of the old go to jokes. Sad.
Random Platinum Comedy Series/Def Comedy Jam compilations- Past 1996, Def Comedy Jam was rendered no longer funny because BET’s Comic View was giving all of the comic that normally didn’t have a venue a place to grow and perform. Once HBO brought it back, it was no longer funny any more. The only Def Jam comps worth watching are the ones between 1993-1996. Or get the ones that focus on a specific comedian/comedians...a lot of those cats sucked for real.
Next Edition: Documentaries
One.
Dart’s Three Trailers Of The Week (1/29/07- 2/3/07):
The Kingdom
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0431197/trailers
Black Snake Moan
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0462200/trailers
I Think I Love My Wife
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0770772/trailers
Comedies/comedy series’ available for rent through Netflix:
The Aristocrats
Waiting...
Wet Hot American Summer
The Comedians Of Comedy: Live At The El Rey
The Comedians Of Comedy: The Movie
Arrested Development (series)
The Chris Rock Show (series)
Mr. Show (series)
The Ben Stiller Show (series)
Tenacious D (series)
The Richard Pryor Show (series)
An Evening With Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith 2: Evening Harder
Eddie Griffin: Voodoo Child
DysFunktional Family (Eddie Griffin)
Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic
Bill Maher: Victory Begins At Home
Bill Maher: New Rules
George Carlin: You Are All Diseased
George Carlin: Complaints And Greivances
David Cross: Let America Laugh
George Lopez: Why Are You Crying?
Carlos Mencia: Not For The Easily Offended
Denis Leary: The Complete Denis Leary
Steve Harvey: One Man
The Original Kings Of Comedy
The Original Latin Kings Of Comedy
Damon Wayans: The Last Stand
Damon Wayans: Still Standing
Alex Thomas: Straight Clownin’
Dave Attell’s Insomniac Tour Uncensored
One Night Stand: Louis CK
Platinum Comedy Series: Adele Givens
Patinum Comedy Series: Sheryl Underwood
Ellen Degeneris: Here And Now
Robin Williams: Live On Broadway
Jim Gaffigan: Beyond The Pale
Zach Gallifanakis Live
Patton Oswalt: No Reason To Complain: Uncensored
Paul Rodriguez: Live At San Quentin
Billy Connolly: Live In New York
Billy Connolly Live: The Greatest Hits
Paul Mooney: Analyzing White America
Latham Entertainment presents: An All New Comedy Experience
Jamie Foxx: I Might Need Security
Jamie Foxx: Live From The Foxxhole
Queens Of Comedy
Dart’s Picks:
The Richard Pryor Show (series)
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia: Season 1 (series)
Weeds (Seasons 1& 2) (series)
Comedians Of Comedy: The Movie
Rent these and laugh your ass off^. Nuff said.
Dart’s WTF? Awards/Watch This Bullshit At Your Own Risk:
Mike Epps: Innapropiate Behaviour- Mike Epps is funny in movies. When he has to come up with his own routines...he can flounder. It’s like he’s freestyling it all on stage, the difference being that on a movie set, he’s quick and improvise a whole comedic scene. On stage, it’s painful to watch. He uses a lot of contrived material and he isn’t original enough to pull it off. He pretty much rehashes all of the old go to jokes. Sad.
Random Platinum Comedy Series/Def Comedy Jam compilations- Past 1996, Def Comedy Jam was rendered no longer funny because BET’s Comic View was giving all of the comic that normally didn’t have a venue a place to grow and perform. Once HBO brought it back, it was no longer funny any more. The only Def Jam comps worth watching are the ones between 1993-1996. Or get the ones that focus on a specific comedian/comedians...a lot of those cats sucked for real.
Next Edition: Documentaries
One.
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